Fishermen from Rameswaram have threatened to launch a state-wide agitation if the Central government fails to secure the release of 14 Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested and jailed by the Sri Lankan authorities by June 12, Outlook reported.

On Monday, following the lifting of the fishing ban, the fishermen set out on 820 mechanised boats. While they were fishing between Rameswaram and Katchatheevu, the Lankan navy seized three boats and arrested 14 fishermen allegedly between Dhanushkodi and Thalaimannar and imprisoned them.

The fishermen in Rameswaram, who staged a demonstration in front of the fisheries department office in Rameswaram on Wednesday, demanded the immediate intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to secure the release of their 14 colleagues.

They also advised fishermen not to cross the international maritime boundary line and enter Lankan waters. They thanked Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa for urging the PM to secure the release of these fishermen but added that they were left with no other option except fishing in the Palk Straits.

“Due to continuous attacks and arrests of fishermen, many have moved to other coastal areas for fishing. There is no other industry in drought-hit Ramanathapuram and agriculture is also not possible,” one of them said.
(With inputs from Outlook)