Desk:On Tuesday morning, the Sri Lankan Navy reportedly opened fire on Tamil Nadu fishermen fishing in deep sea waters, injuring two fishermen and arresting 13 others. According to reports, the 13 fishermen were accused of crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and fishing in Sri Lankan territorial waters.
The arrested fishermen, residents of Karaikal, were detained near Neduntheevu (Delft Island) while fishing. The Sri Lankan Navy also seized their boats. Allegedly, the fishermen tried to evade arrest, but they were eventually taken to Kankesanthurai fishing harbor in Sri Lanka.
This is the second incident of fishermen arrests within two days. Earlier, the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 34 fishermen and seized their boats, 32 of whom hailed from Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu.
CM MK Stalin Expresses Concern
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed serious concern over the arrests and wrote a letter to External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, urging immediate diplomatic action to secure their release.
CM Stalin’s Letter to Jaishankar
In his letter, CM Stalin highlighted yet another incident involving the detention of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy. He stated that all the fishermen had ventured from Rameswaram port in three mechanized boats. They were arrested near Dhanushkodi while fishing.
“This repeated harassment of our fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy has created a sense of fear and uncertainty among coastal communities. Immediate diplomatic measures are needed to prevent such incidents,” Stalin wrote.
Call for Diplomatic Action
The Chief Minister urged the Union Government to engage in strong diplomatic efforts to stop the repeated arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy. He appealed for the immediate release of the detained fishermen and their boats, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the livelihood and dignity of the fishing communities.