Thirty seven fishermen from Tamil Nadu found themselves in the custody of the Sri Lankan navy, along with the confiscation of five of their fishing trawlers, following an alleged incursion into Sri Lankan territorial waters, as reported by a fisheries official in Chennai on Sunday.
The apprehension took place during a Saturday night operation by the Sri Lankan navy, marking the tenth instance this month alone where 64 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and their 10 fishing boats have been detained by the neighbouring country. Responding to the escalating situation, Chief Minister M K Stalin has called upon Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to take immediate measures for the release of the detained fishermen and the retrieval of their impounded vessels.
Expressing concern over the plight of the fishermen, Chief Minister Stalin emphasized the heavy reliance of these communities on fishing for their livelihood. In a letter addressed to Minister Jaishankar, Stalin urged the Indian government to assertively advocate for the rights and safety of Tamil Nadu fishermen, who are facing increasing distress due to recurrent arrests by the Sri Lankan navy.
Stalin highlighted the adverse impact of such incidents on the fishing communities in Tamil Nadu, asserting that the fishermen perceive a diminishing influence of their voices. He called for a more robust stance from the Government of India in safeguarding the traditional fishing rights of Indian fishermen in the Palk Bay region.
Despite previous calls to halt arrests and boat seizures, the Sri Lankan navy continues to apprehend Indian fishermen, prompting Chief Minister Stalin to demand immediate and effective diplomatic interventions to bring an end to these recurring detentions.
