Seven Tamil Nadu fishermen detained by Sri Lankan navy near north Mannar

Seven fishermen from Tamil Nadu’s Rameswaram and Thangachimadam were detained by the Sri Lankan Navy early on Sunday while fishing between Katchatheevu islet and North Mannar, triggering fresh demands for their immediate release and a lasting resolution to the maritime fishing dispute.

According to Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department officials, the fishermen’s trawler was intercepted by Sri Lankan naval personnel at around 1 am.

The seven men were accused of poaching and taken, along with their vessel, to a Sri Lankan naval port.

The fishermen have been identified as Placius, 41; Alagu Pandi, 22; Antony Pitchai, 33; Rabin, 21; Nelson, 58; Arulananda Xavier, 65; and Sahaya Anand, 34. All seven belong to fishing communities in Ramanathapuram district.

Fishermen’s associations demand immediate release

The Fisheries Department had issued 398 fishing tokens on Saturday. The fishermen who set out to sea were expected to return by Sunday evening, but the seven men were detained before completing their fishing trip.

The arrests have drawn strong condemnation from fishermen’s leaders, who have urged both the Central and Tamil Nadu governments to intervene and secure the men’s release at the earliest.

With Deepavali approaching, the detention has caused considerable distress among the local fishing community.

“We will convene a meeting of all fishermen associations in the coastal district and decide the next course of action,” a fishermen’s leader said.

Repeated detentions fuel tensions

The latest incident comes amid a series of arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, with fishing associations repeatedly calling for government intervention.

On October 3, nine fishermen from Rameswaram were arrested and their mechanised boat was seized. The incident subsequently prompted Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay to seek the intervention of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

In a letter dated October 5, Vijay called for the release of 20 fishermen then in Sri Lankan custody and 270 seized boats. He also urged the two countries to revive engagement through the bilateral Joint Working Group on Fisheries. The figures reflected the situation at the time of his appeal.

Earlier, in July, nine fishermen who had sailed from Rameswaram were arrested while fishing north of Mannar. Their boat, owned by a Thangachimadam resident, was seized, and the crew were taken to a naval camp in Mannar.

Another incident in March involved the detention of seven Rameswaram fishermen and two mechanised boats over allegations that they had crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line. Fishing associations had subsequently demanded the release of both the fishermen and their vessels.

Following Sunday’s arrests, local fishing associations are preparing to hold fresh consultations, with their immediate demand centred on securing the return of the seven detained fishermen.

(with IANS inputs)