Chennai: The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 36 fishermen from Tamilnadu for fishing in the Lankan waters on Tuesday, even as leaders of various political parties condemned it and urged External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar to take steps to secure their release.
The fishermen were arrested in a special operation carried out by the Lankan Navy and the Coast Guard in view of the
increase of Indian trawlers allegedly poaching in Lankan waters after crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).
While 22 fishermen were arrested along with their three fishing trawlers in the sea off the Delft Island, 14 other fishermen were arrested off Gulf of Mannar and impounded their two boats.
Condemning the arrest of the fishermen, various fishermen associations in Rameswaram on started an indefinite strike demanding the Lankan government to order their immediate release.
The associations urged the Central and State governments to immediately take up the issue with its counterparts in Sri Lankan and secure their release on humanitarian grounds along with their five mechanised boats.
They also termed the arrest as ‘unfortunate’ for violating the IMBL laws.
Reports received here said in view of COVID-19 pandemic, the arrested fishermen were kept under 14 days quarantine after which which would produced before a court and sent to judicial remand.
Meanwhile, leaders of various political parties condemned the arrest and urged the Centre to take steps to secure their release.
Opposition DMK president M K Stalin, in a tweet said, the act of Sri Lankan navy to arrest Tamil fishermen even when the Covid-19 restrictions are in place is highly disappointing and unexpected.
“I request External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar to take immediate action to bring our 36 detained fishermen and their fishing gears back home safely,” he said.
MDMK general secretary Vaiko also condemned the arrest and urged the Centre to take steps to secure their release.