Thirteen Bharat fishermen were safely repatriated from Sri Lanka to Chennai, as confirmed by the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka. This follows a previous incident on January 5 when 21 Indian fishermen were also sent back to Chennai after being detained by the Sri Lankan Navy for alleged illegal poaching in Sri Lankan waters.
In 2023, the Sri Lankan Navy apprehended at least 33 Indian trawlers and 220 Indian fishermen, according to a statement released in December of that year. Recently, six fishermen from Tamil Nadu were arrested in December, while another 25 were detained, consisting of 12 from Tamil Nadu and 13 from Puducherry, in separate incidents.
The repeated arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy have raised concerns at both the central and state levels. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin had previously written to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in October, expressing worry over the continuous detentions and urging the central government to safeguard the traditional fishing rights of the state’s anglers in the Palk Bay region.
Tamil Nadu BJP president Annamalai also addressed the issue by writing to EAM Jaishankar. The matter was not only a concern for the state but was also discussed during the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe in July, where a humane approach towards addressing the livelihood issues of fishermen was emphasized.
In response to the situation, PM Modi stated, “We also discussed the issues related to the livelihood of fishermen. We agree that we should proceed with a humane approach in this matter.” The incidents highlight the ongoing challenges faced by Indian fishermen in the region and the diplomatic efforts being made to address these concerns.
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