Rameswaram fishermen attacked, driven away by Sri Lankan Navy

Many fishermen aboard boats returned to shore at Rameswaram in the early hours of Monday fearing an attack. The affected fishermen claimed that the Sri Lankan Navy personnel surrounded seven boats, which set off Rameswaram coast on Sunday morning, near Katchatheevu, hurled empty bottles and stones to eventually drive the Tamil Nadu fishermen back to shores. To safeguard themselves, many severed nets from their boats and returned to shore, sources said.

NJ Bose, general secretary, Tamil Nadu Fishermen Association, said nearly after a gap of two weeks following weather restrictions, fishing resumed on Sunday and the Lankan naval attack on Tamil Nadu fishermen seems to be a never-ending episode. Adding to woes of Rameswaram fishermen, he said many fishing boats from Kanyakumari, Chennai, Mangalore and Kerala and several unregistered boats had been engaged in fishing at Rameswaram coast.

Rameswaram, a small island, has a fleet of 650 registered boats, relying on the limited sea surface, which is closer to Sri Lanka, to earn their likelihoods.

Due to the intervention of alien boats in coastal waters off Rameswaram, the native fishermen were forced to sail deep towards the vicinity of IMBL. Even, many boats had no anchorage permission.

“However, the authorities concerned from India should convene talks with their counterparts in neighbouring Sri Lanka to eventually stave off such naval attacks,” he said.

PMK leader S Ramadoss, on Sunday, condemned Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly threatening Tamil Nadu fishermen while fishing in the Bay of Bengal. “Rameshwaram fishermen fishing near Katchatheevu were threatened by Sri Lankan Navy with their guns. It is highly condemnable and it had resulted in a loss to the tune of the several lakhs for Tamil Nadu fishermen”, said Ramadoss, in a tweet. Rameshwaram fishermen on Saturday reported that they were threatened by Sri Lankan Navy when they were fishing in Indian waters. Political leaders condemned the Sri Lankan Navy for threatening and stopping fishermen from fishing in Indian waters. “Sri Lankan Navy was silent and did not indulge in threatening Tamil Nadu fishermen for few months but now they have commenced again. Indian government should ensure that Tamil Nadu fishermen fish without any fear in the Bay of Bengal”, added Ramadoss.