About 3,000 Rameswaram fishermen struck work on Wednesday, registering their protest against the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) for allegedly opening fire and injuring two fishermen when they were fishing on the high seas in the Palk Bay on Monday.
More than 700 trawlers were anchored at the Rameswaram fishing jetty as the fishermen resorted to a one-day token strike demanding action against the Coast Guard personnel, who allegedly opened fire on fishermen and for beating up five fishermen after boarding the trawler. “We have decided to observe a day’s strike and stage demonstration on Thursday to draw the attention of the authorities to put an end to such attacks by the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy,” fishermen leader P. Sesu Raja said.
It was very disturbing that the ICG, which was supposed to protect the Indian fishermen, has resorted to firing for the simple reason that the fishermen failed to heed to their caution and stop the boat, he said.
Condemning the alleged firing and beating up of the fishermen, U. Arulanandham, president of the Alliance for the Release of Innocent Fishermen (ARIF), and M. Ilango, president of the National Fisherfolk Forum, demanded a high-level enquiry into the incident by the Defence Ministry.
Pointing that Coast Guard officials made contradictory statements — an official stating that they never opened fire and another saying that they fired warning shots — the fishermen leaders said this clearly showed the Coast Guard tried to cover up the incident but were forced to reveal the truth after the injured fishermen produced the bullet and a doctor certified the wounds as gun shot injuries. The Coast Guard and the Navy had attacked the fishermen in the past but no action was taken against the personnel. “This time, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman should order a high-level inquiry and fix responsibility,” the leaders demanded.
If the fishermen were involved in the banned pair trawling, the Coast Guard could have noted down the registration number and reported the matter to the Fisheries Department, they said. This was a clear case of human rights violation, Mr Ilango said and demanded the NHRC to initiate suo motu action.
