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National

Fishermen go on strike

Special Correspondent

RAMANATHAPURAM: Various fishermen associations of Rameswaram announced an indefinite strike demanding the release of 20 fishermen, who were allegedly “detained” by the Sri Lankan Navy for entering its waters on Saturday.

According to fishermen who returned to the shore on Sunday, Sri Lankan naval personnel surrounded five boats from Rameswaram when the crew members were fishing in the sea between Katchatheevu and Talaimannar on Saturday evening. They took away the boats along with crew members to Talaimannar for questioning.

The owners of those boats have lodged complaints to fisheries authorities demanding immediate steps to secure the fishermen’s release.

As soon as the news reached Rameswaram, fishermen associations held a meeting and announced an indefinite strike with immediate effect urging the State and the Central governments to take steps to secure the release of their fellow fishermen.

The meeting was chaired by the president of the Yagappa Mechanised Boat Fishermen Association, Benjamin. The resolution adopted in the meeting said the fishermen would not venture into the sea until the fishermen from Rameswaram were released. The repeated arrests of fishermen, who were fishing in and around the sea off Katchatheevu where they enjoyed traditional rights, had threatened their livelihood.

Another resolution said the Centre should immediately release all Sri Lankan fishermen arrested for maritime violation.

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