Twenty—two Tamil fishermen and their five boats were taken into custody by Sri Lankan naval personnel when they were fishing near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) off Arichalmunai in this island early on Sunday, police said.
The Sri Lankan naval men alleged that the fishermen had crossed the IMBL while fishing, official sources said.
Though two more boats were missing, it was not immediately known whether these had also had been commandeered by the Sri Lanakan naval men, official sources said here.
Police said according to information they received, the fishermen were produced before a court in Talimannar in Sri Lanka.
Before taking the fishermen into custody, the naval men allegedly attacked them by pelting stones and bottles and damaged their boats, they said.
Keywords: Tamil Nadu fishermen, Sri Lankan Navy, maritime border
@Stan Costa. Your comments either should be an outburst or from a person who is not aware about the actual facts. This is not the first time Tamil fishermen are held fishing in International waters towards Sri Lankan Territorial waters. Indian Coast Guard on its part has warned many times to Tamil fishermen about the consequences in the event of straying in other country's territorial waters.
Many of the Tamil fishermen in the guise of fishing operate their trips for clandestine purposes. Smuggling Diesel, ecstastic pills and butane gas cylinders across the waters has become a regular feature for this fishermen. They are sold on midseas to LTTE sympathisers, who pay them in muliple for this supplies. The police and customs records at the Rameshwaram will speak volumes on this.
No need to blame the Sri Lankan Navy or compare this incident with Japan and China. Let the Tamil fishermen come clear in their act first. Playing the regional and race card will not help to hide the crime.
Mr.S.M. Krishna it is high time you ask your envoys to take up confidence building measures beween the Lankans and the Tamil fishermen.They seem to still have a hatred for the Tamils whom they persecuted all these years.Don't pussy foot Mr.Krishna,get the Indian coast guard to give the Lankan fishermen the same treatment and then these incidents should reduce.
The Govt acted tough is the case of the Italians charged with killing Indian fisherman. However, nothing seems to be done about the repeated harassment and killing of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy personnel.
India has to learn a lesson or two from China which waged a diplomatic offense on Japan and freed the captain of the Chinese fishing vessel from Japanese custody.
Any way there was no gun shot or encounter.India can resolve it amicably.
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