SLN arrests 18 Tamil Nadu fishermen in the islets of Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 November 2009, 17:26 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) arrested eighteen fishermen from Tamil Nadu Wednesday early morning in the islets of Jaffna for illegal entry into Sri Lankan waters, sources in Jaffna said. Nearly 2000 fishermen in Puthukkoaddai in Tamil Nadu are boycotting fishing demanding the immediate release of their fellow fishermen, sources in Tamil Nadu said. Meanwhile in Tamil Nadu, Indian Navy arrested ten fishermen from Sri Lanka for trespassing on Indian seas Wednesday and the arrested fishermen were handed over to Fishing Harbour police in Tamil Nadu.

The arrested Tamil Nadu fishermen are from Jegathaappadda’nam and Koaddaippadda’nam in Puthukoaddai district.

SLN had arrested the Tamil Nadu fishermen who were about to return to Tamil Nadu after fishing during the night.

The fishermen had been hit and their possessions confiscated by SLN soldiers, according to Fisheries Society sources in Puthukkoaddai.

They are being held and interrogated in Kaarainakar SLN base. It is not known whether they will be sent to Jaffna prison or released.

Meanwhile, the arrested ten Sri Lankan fishermen were handed over to Harbour police and later sent to Tamil Nadu prison. Their boats and fishing equipments have been confiscated.

The fishermen in Puthukkoaddai who are boycotting fishing have stationed their boats and catamarans on the shore and warned that they will take them to the streets to block traffic if the arrested Tamil Nadu fishermen are not released immediately, fisheries society sources said.

Arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by SLN and consequent protest demonstrations by their fellow fishermen who call off their protest on assurances given to them by Tamil Nadu government has become a normal pattern of affairs, civil society sources in Tamil Nadu said.