Frequent arrests by Sri Lankan Navy: TN fishermen protest march to Ramanathapuram collectorate

by IANS |



Chennai, Feb 20( IANS) Fishermen from two hamlets of Tamil Nadu will be holding a protest march from Rameswaram to Ramanathapuram collectorate on Tuesday to protest "arrest and assault" by the Sri Lankan Navy.


The fishermen will be walking 50 kilometres from Rameswaram to register their protests.


The fishermen of Rameswaram and Thanalgachimadom fishing hamlets are abstaining from venturing into the seas since Sunday and their mechanised fishing boats are anchored in the shores with black flags on top.


The fishermen will surrender the RC books of their boats, their Aadhar cards and voter identity cards as they feel that there was no use of them.


Antony Dominic, leader of Rameswaram Fishermen association, told IANS: "The protest we are conducting is for our survival. We have been regularly intercepted and arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy and our costly mechanised boats are impounded. These boats will not be released as Sri Lankans have now resorted to nationalasing these boats-in short taking procession."


"In this manner we cannot move ahead. We have been complaining to both central and state governments but to no avail. All our prayers are fallen on deaf ears and we have now resorted to more aggressive mode to get the matter settled once and for all," he said.


The fishermen leader also said that fishermen will boycott elections until their demands are met.


N.Devadoss, President of Rameswaram Fishermen Cooperative Society who is spearheading the protest rally to the Ramanathapuram collectorate told IANS that the rally would take two days to reach the collectorate as it was a 50 km march.


He said that the protesting fishermen will not resume fishing activities until a permanent solution to the "plauging issue" is made.


Many fishermen from Rameswaram are in Sri Lankan jails for crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and some who have repeated their "offense" are undergoing extended prison terms.



Latest News
We look forward to boost presence in the UK: N. Chandrasekaran Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 03:21 PM
CCPA fines coaching institute for false claims on IIT-JEE results Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 03:14 PM
High risk bushfire warning issued for Tasmania on Australian west coast Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 03:11 PM
SC extends relief to ex-IAS trainee officer Puja Khedkar Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 02:49 PM
Medvedev reaches first quarterfinal of the season in Marseille Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 01:03 PM
IPL 2025: Aakash Chopra backs Axar Patel to lead Delhi Capitals Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 01:00 PM
Karnataka police station attack case: 16 arrested so far, 1,000 booked Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 12:40 PM
Impact of Trump's 'reciprocal' tariffs may be limited due to FTA: South Korea Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 12:34 PM
H5N1 bird flu silently spread from animals to some humans: US CDC Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 12:31 PM
Champions Trophy: ICC announce USD 6.9 mn prize pool, 53 pc hike from last edition Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 12:29 PM
India rejects Trump's offer to mediate with China Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 11:43 AM
Trump calls PM Modi tougher negotiator than him Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 11:39 AM
Trump launches attack on BRICS; threatens 100 pc tariff if it launched currency Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 11:36 AM
YSRCP leader Vamsi Mohan remanded to judicial custody Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 11:33 AM
India's e-waste offers $6 billion economic opportunity: Report Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 11:21 AM