Fourteen fishermen from the coastal district of Ramanathapuram had been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy personnel on expenses of poaching and two trawlers had been seized within the early hours of Sunday (February 9, 2025).
Fisheries Division officers right here informed The Hindu that they’d issued 427 tokens on Saturday from the fishing harbour and that they had been anticipated to return to shores on Sunday night.
When 14 fishermen (eleven in a single boat and three in one other trawler) had been engaged in fishing, the Sri Lankan Navy detained them below expenses of poaching within the Palk Bay space. They had been taken to the Naval Port and handed them over to the authorities for additional authorized motion.
In lower than a fortnight alone, over 50 fishermen had been held and only some days in the past, they’d registered their protest by the use of an illustration close to Rameswaram bus stand.
Senior fishermen chief Sesu Raja mentioned that they’d convene a gathering on Monday (February 10) and resolve concerning the subsequent plan of action.
Within the meantime, he informed this correspondent that the Union authorities needed to step in and maintain talks with the Sri Lankan authorities. “Only this will bring about a permanent solution…” he mentioned.
The excessive degree assembly with the fishermen associations in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province needs to be organized for direct talks with the fishermen from Tamil Nadu. “The Sri Lankan government should allow us in Katchatheevu for three days in a week… The catch is only there.. Hence, the governments should enter into a Memorandum of Understanding for 50 years,” Mr. Sesu Raja mentioned.
Such an answer would assist the fishermen from either side to enterprise into the ocean with none apprehension. Else, the livelihood can be in for deep hassle. Fishermen wouldn’t have the sense of safety whereas fishing. “We are traditional fishermen engaged in fishing in the Palk Bay from time immemorial. Depriving us from the rights under some pretext was unfair,” Selvin, a fishermen chief mentioned.
Fantastic slapped
Within the latest instances, the Sri Lankan authorities not solely arrested the fishermen from Tamil Nadu, but in addition slapped fines starting from 50,000 to 200,000 Sri Lankan Rupee. Additionally, the authorities within the island nation jailed the fishermen from six months to 24 months below the guise of “repeat offender”.
Many households had been in despair and wanted psychological help, a 59-year-old fisherman Antony from Thangachimadam mentioned and added that when the information reached the colonies right here, the youngsters and ladies wept and refused to eat. A few of them even threatened to finish their lives.
The fishermen leaders mentioned that they’d meet on Monday.
(Help for overcoming suicidal ideas is out there on the State’s well being helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416, and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050)
Revealed – February 09, 2025 03:48 pm IST
