The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 12 fishermen from Tamil Nadu, accusing them of crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) while fishing near Neduntheevu.
According to officials from the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department, the fishermen were detained early Sunday morning and taken to a Sri Lankan naval camp for questioning.
The Sri Lankan Navy also seized their mechanised boat and fishing equipment. Since June 16, the Sri Lankan Navy has detained 425 fishermen from the state and impounded 58 boats.
Approximately 110 fishermen remain in Sri Lankan custody. On October 23, the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 16 Tamil fishermen from Rameswaram, sparking widespread protests in the state.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has personally written to Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, urging him to intervene and secure the release of the fishermen and their boats.
K.M. Palaniappan, a fishermen’s leader from Tamil Nadu, expressed his frustration to IANS: “The arrest of 12 Tamil fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy on Sunday is highly deplorable. It’s high time the Union government takes action, as our people are increasingly fearful of fishing in the high seas, which directly leads to poverty and hardship.”
He also called upon the Chief Minister to push the Centre for an immediate release of the fishermen and their boats.
Political parties in Tamil Nadu, including the DMK, AIADMK, and PMK, have been raising concerns about the difficulties Tamil fishermen face due to actions by the Sri Lankan Navy.
On August 1, 2023, a tragic incident occurred when a Sri Lankan naval boat allegedly rammed into a fishing boat, causing it to capsize. One fisherman, Malaisamy (59), drowned, while another, Ramachandran (64), went missing. Two other fishermen on the boat, Mookiah (51) and Muthu Muniandi (52) were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy but were later handed over to Indian authorities.
Telangana tunnel collapse: L&T teams with advanced equipment join rescue operation
Two teams of construction major Larsen & Toubro with advanced equipment on Monday joined the operation to rescue eight trapped workers from an under-construction tunnel, a portion of which collapsed on February 22 in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district.
Right time to invest in Madhya Pradesh: PM Modi at Global Investors Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the Global Investors Summit here highlighting investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh and urging investors to tap available potential in the state.
Govt backs India Inc. bid to become major exporter of power equipment
India is on the path to becoming a major exporter of power equipment, with global players showing strong interest in the country’s domestic manufacturing capabilities, Secretary, Ministry of Power, Pankaj Agarwal has said.
Sudha Murty nominates Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, PT Usha to keep up fight against obesity
Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty on Monday nominated Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Indian Olympic Association head PT Usha to advance the campaign against obesity launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Fight over USAID funding: Cong claims 7 projects got grant, BJP calls it ‘theatrics to hide beneficiaries'
The raging row over USAID funding to India for ‘voter turnout’ has kicked up a political storm, with Congress and BJP taking turns to potshots at each other over the ‘beneficiaries’.
Gautam Adani hails MP's investment readiness, transformative leadership of PM Modi, CM Yadav
Announcing a whopping Rs 1.10 lakh crore investment and creation of 1,20,000 lakh jobs by the end of the decade, India’s top businessman Gautam Adani lauded the transformative leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav,
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, 6 ministers take oath as members of Legislative Assembly
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta along with her council of ministers took oath as members of the Legislative Assembly on Monday. The first session of the House commenced this morning and will see all newly-elected legislators taking oath.
Family held at gunpoint, robbers looted house in Churaibari
According to reports, Sadhan Deb, a resident of the area, went to sleep as usual with his two children last night. However, around 2:30 AM, a gang of 7-8 armed robbers stormed into his house by breaking down the door with a sledgehammer.