Over 3,500 fishermen, including about 2,500 women and children, staged an agitation in front of the Collectorate here on Monday, condemning the killing of Thangachimadam fisherman K. Britjo allegedly by Sri Lankan Navy last week.
The agitation was called by Federation of Fishermen Associations of Kanniyakumari District. The leaders of the associations, who addressed the protesters, said Indian fishermen had every right to dry their fishnets in Katchatheevu and conduct prayers at St. Antony Church on the islet as per the agreement signed between the two nations.
In violation of the agreement, Sri Lankan Navy personnel had been continuing atrocities against Indian fishermen in mid-sea for the last 34 years, they said.
The Central and State governments should find out a permanent solution to the continuing problem, they stressed.
Jesiah of People’s Movement Against Enayam International Container Trans-shipment Terminal, M. Xavier Manoharan, chairman of Tamil Nadu Fishermen Apex Cooperative Union, and others spoke.
Tension prevailed for over half an hour as the agitators blocked the road in front of the Collectorate. The police held talks with them following which they dispersed. However, fishermen in the district kept off the sea on Monday.
