Refusing to accept the body of Britjo (21), who was shot dead while fishing on the high seas, fishermen continued their protest for the third day on Thursday, pressing charter of demands, including a lasting solution for peaceful fishing in the Palk Bay.
Notwithstanding the assurances given by Ramanathapuram Collector S. Natarajan and local MP A. Anwar Raja, family members of the deceased fisherman and a large number of fisherfolk continued their protest in front of the Infant Jesus Church at Thangachimadam near here with candle lights.
The protest would continue till the Centre gave an undertaking that there would be no shooting in future, came out with a lasting solution to the fishermen issue and secured the release of all fishermen and boats detained in Sri Lanka, P. Sesu Raja, fishermen leader said.
He said though Vice President M. Hamid Ansari had discussed the shooting incident with Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena, it was disappointing that the Centre had not condemned the firing. Reports suggested that the Lankan government had ordered the release of 85 fishermen but they would call off the stir only if the boats were also released, he said.
He rued that though the State government had announced a solatium to the family of the deceased and the injured fisherman and had agreed to consider their other demands, the Centre had remained silent.
‘Unacceptable’
U. Arulanandham, president of the Alliance for the Release of Innocent Fishermen (ARIF), said it was unfortunate that the Modi government, which was keen on maintaining healthy ties with Sri Lanka, remained silent on the shooting incident.
Referring to the Lankan navy denying its involvement in the firing, he said earlier, the Lankan navy was blaming the LTTE for any shooting incident, but now the Palk Straits was patrolled by the Lankan navy on the one side and the Indian Navy and Coast Guard on the other. Who else would have gunned down the fisherman, he asked.
The fishermen leaders were also considering a suggestion made by Mr. Anwar Raja to meet Foreign Secretary S. Jaisankar in Delhi.
