Fishermen deaths, which were a regular occurrence till some years ago, stopped after the governments changed in India and Sri Lanka, though attacks and arrests of Tamilnadu fishermen by the island nation navy continued. Now, loss of life has come back to haunt Indian fishermen, after one of them died in an incident involving the Lankan navy. This is strongly condemnable and calls for immediate action by the authorities.
K Muniasamy was part of a group of fishermen in two boats fishing in their traditional fishing zone – the Palk Straits – 13 January when they were chased by the island nation navy. Both boats capsized as a result and the fishermen fell into the sea. While eight of them were rescued, Muniasamy drowned. Fishermen from Rameswaram, Pamban and Mandapam in Ramanathapuram district kept off the seas Wednesday to condemn the incident.
There are rules to be followed when officials of a country spot citizens of a neighbouring nation in mid-sea or on the international border. For instance, whenever Sri Lankans trespass into Indian waters, our Coast Guard and Navy personnel adhere to rules and treat them with dignity, without straightaway arresting or attacking them. Same is expected from Sri Lanka, too. Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has already strongly condemned the latest incident and it is time for India to register its protest with Lanka.