Detained Indian fishermen threaten hunger strike

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 November 2004, 15:11 GMT]
Mannar Magistrate Mr.M.N.M.Abdulla Tuesday ordered further remand for five Indian fishermen who were arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) when poaching in the seas off Thalaimannar. The suspects told civil officials present in court that they would go on hunger strike if they are not sent back to India.

The Indian fishermen were arrested on 4 September and handed over to Thalaimannar Police. Mannar Magistrate remanded them for fourteen days when they were produced in court on 5 September, legal sources said. They were then produced in court every fourteen days and remanded.

These fishermen were produced Tuesday in Mannar court. They told prison officials that one of them is suffering from mental disorder and the rest have been suffering from various diseases.

Prison sources said one of the Indian fishermen is in the verge of losing his eyesight if not attended to promptly.

All the suspects told those civil officials present in court Tuesday that they would launch indefinite hunger strike if the Indian high commission officials fail to visit them in Anuradhapura prison where they are kept in remand and take necessary measures to deport them to their motherland without delay, legal sources said.