Chennai: Fishermen in Tamilnadu have threatened to stage a hunger-strike on 22 December, protesting the arrest of 55 fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy and demanding their release.
M Arogyasami, general secretary, of the Fishermen Welfare Association of Tamilnadu said, ‘Indian fishermen are targeted by the Sri Lankan Navy at Katchatheevu and other areas near to the international waters. Most of these fishermen who face the brunt of attacks and stone-pelting by the Sri Lankans are fishermen from Tamilnadu who voyages into the sea for a living. Government has to take stringent action, otherwise, things will go out of control.’
Fishermen emanded the release of all 55 fishermen by 31 December when their judicial custody ends. They said if their demand was not met, they would launch agitation to stop the Sethu Superfast Express from Chennai to Rameswaram.
K Selvaraj, State secretary of Ramanathapuram Fishermen Association, said, ‘There is real uncertainty in the area and we are going into the sea for a living. More than nineteen such incidents have taken place in and around Katchatheevu within the past year and we cannot tolerate this anymore.’
Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote to Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar about the situation on Sunday. Fifty-five fishermen along with 73 boats are currently in the custody of the Sri Lankan Navy, according to a letter written by Stalin to Jaishankar.