Eight fishermen from Tamil Nadu were arrested during the early hours of Tuesday by the Sri Lankan Navy.
The fishermen were arrested for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). The arrested fishermen were taken to the Mannar Naval camp in Sri Lanka along with their mechanised fishing boat.
All the eight arrested fishermen are from the Rameswaram area of the state.
Fishermen association leader R. Rajendran while speaking to IANS called upon the immediate intervention of the state and central governments for the arrested fishermen's release.
He said, "The arrest of our fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy is highly deplorable and we strongly raise our protest against this inhuman treatment by the Sri Lankan Navy."
It may be recalled that the Sri Lankan Navy had arrested 11 Tamil fishermen from Nagapattinam and Rameswaram a day before.
Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M.K. Stalin had said that since the beginning of 2024, a total of 324 fishermen from Tamil Nadu have been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for crossing the IMBL.
On August 1, 2024, a mechanised fishing boat from Rameswaram capsized when it was chased by the Sri Lankan navy on charges of crossing into its waters. Of the four fishermen on board the fishing boat, one died, one went missing in the sea and two were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy.
The deceased was identified as Malaisamy (59), while the missing fisherman was Ramachandran (64). Two other fishermen, M. Mookiah (54) and Muthu Muniandi (56) were arrested but later handed over to Indian officials. CM Stalin shot off a letter to Union External Affairs Minister S.Jaishankar for the immediate intervention of the Centre to solve the vexed issue.
It is to be noted that fishermen from several fishing hamlets of Tamil Nadu, including Rameswaram, Pudukottai and Nagapattinam are apprehensive of venturing into the sea after regular attacks from the Sri Lankan Navy in mid-sea.
K.Sreemathi, wife of Ramalingam, a fisherman who had suffered injuries in the deep sea in an attack by the Sri Lankan Navy while speaking to IANS said, "We are now afraid of our men venturing into the sea as they are facing unexpected attacks by the Sri Lankan Navy. Unless the Government of India and Tamil Nadu government intervene and bring a permanent solution to this, we will starve to death.”
She called upon the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to exert pressure on the Centre for a permanent solution.
Sri Lankan Navy arrests 32 Tamil fishermen, five boats seized
The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 32 fishermen from Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and fishing in Lankan waters.
Mann Ki Baat: PM Modi hails ISRO's century in rocket launches, urges people to dedicate a day for science
Addressing the 119th episode of his monthly radio programme, 'Mann Ki Baat', on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the Indian Space Research Organisation, saying it has hit the century in space. Last month, the country witnessed the ISRO's 100th rocket launch.
Mizoram student stabbed to death in Kerala, batchmate arrested
A 22-year-old BTech student from Mizoram was stabbed to death near his college in Thiruvananthapuram. The deceased, Valentine, was a student at Rajadhani Institute of Engineering & Technology, Nagaroor.
Italy PM slams Left's double standards, says when Trump, Meloni, Modi talk, they are called threat to democracy
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has accused left-wing politicians of being "nervous" over former US President Donald Trump's victory, claiming that conservatives are unfairly labelled as a "threat to democracy" while leftist leaders are celebrated for similar global alliances.
NDRF intensifies rescue operation to save 8 trapped in Telangana tunnel
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams on Sunday intensified rescue efforts to save eight persons trapped in an under-construction tunnel after a portion of its roof collapsed in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district on February 22.
Israel delays Palestinian prisoner release after 'humiliating' hostage handovers
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that the release of Palestinian prisoners would be delayed until Hamas ceases its "humiliating ceremonies" during the release of Israeli hostages under the ceasefire deal.
PM Modi on 3-day visit to MP, Bihar, Assam from today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Assam from February 23 to 25 to participate in several developmental projects and inaugurate business summits.
US senators call out China for 'weaponising' UN 1971 resolution, vow support to Taiwan
The United States Senators accused China of subverting United Nations Resolution 2758 in an attempt to isolate Taiwan. The senators proposed a resolution in the Senate reaffirming US support for Taiwan. The resolution opposes China's attempt to prevent Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organisations.