Twelve fishermen from Tamil Nadu, who were caught by the Sri Lankan Navy on January 13, have finally been released and returned to Chennai airport on Tuesday. However, there are still eleven fishermen being held in Sri Lanka.
The incident occurred when a total of 23 Bharat fishermen and two boats were seized by the Sri Lankan Navy near Delft Island in the Palkbay Sea area, according to reports from the Rameswaram Fishermen Association. They were taken to Myalati Naval Camp in Jaffna for further investigation.
This isn’t the first time such an incident has happened. Last month, 18 Bharat fishermen were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy, along with the confiscation of two Bharat poaching trawlers within Sri Lankan waters. They were later handed over to authorities for legal proceedings.
The recurring arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy have raised concerns, both for the Central government and the authorities in Tamil Nadu. In response, Rameswaram fishermen staged a symbolic strike on February 5, outlining their grievances and demands.
The fishermen demanded immediate action from both central and state governments to secure the release of seized boats, some of which have been held by Sri Lanka since 2018. They also sought adequate compensation for damaged vessels and permission for rescue teams to retrieve boats held by the Sri Lankan Navy.
Additionally, the fishermen urged the central government to grant permission for a rescue team to retrieve ten boats recently freed by the Sri Lankan Navy, and to provide appropriate compensation for boats sunk by them.
This issue has been previously addressed during a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe in July last year, signaling that it’s been on the radar for some time. However, the demands of the fishermen remain unmet, prompting further action from the affected community.
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