3 fishermen held by SL Coast Guard for crossing IMBL

Fishermen, M Sakthivel (30) from Kadampadi, R Balamurugan (32) from Panangudi and T Manibalan (32) from Nagore ventured for fishing in a country boat owned by Aswath from Aavanam in Thanjavur on January 5.

The fishermen were scheduled to return on the next day, but they failed to do so. Anxious fishermen from the district were searching for the trio, but there was no information about them.

Meanwhile, on Thursday night, the fishers received information that the missing fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan Coast Guard for crossing the IMBL and they were taken to Kangesanthurai harbor in Jaffna.

The fishermen from the district approached the district administration to initiate steps to release the arrested fishermen and their boat. “There are 129 boats in Sri Lanka and the government should initiate steps to hold a talk and bring back the arrested fishermen and their boats,” said A Thajudeen, Tamil Nadu Fishermen Federation General Secretary.

He also urged the Centre to give equal importance to the fishermen on a par with the other people.