Furore as fishermen return with shaved heads from Sri Lanka

RAMANATHAPURAM: Five fishermen from Rameswaram, who were jailed in Sri Lanka, returned to India with tonsured heads after their release, drawing sharp condemnation from the fishermen and the CPM.

The incident caused a furore in Rameswaram, with the families taking out a protest at Thangachimadam on Saturday. The CPM has called for a protest on Sept 20 at Rameswaram condemning the incident

Eight fishermen and their boat were detained by the Sri Lankan navy on Aug 26 on charges of poaching in the territorial waters of Sri Lanka. The Mannar court on Sept 5 ordered the release of five fishermen with a fine of SLR 50,000, while sentencing three to six months in prison and a fine of SLR 50,000 for repeated entry.

"Initially, we were told that we would have to undergo a four-month prison term if we didn't pay the fine, but we assured the Lankan authorities that the fine amount would be arranged through our relatives. However, we were taken to Vavuniya prison that night, and our heads were tonsured the next morning. The prison authorities told us that we are convict prisoners and it was the norm there," said A Innasi Raja, one of the five fishermen who returned to their native Thangachimadam on Saturday.

Fishermen leaders at Rameswaram said that they were arranging money in the following days, and Sept 7 and 8 turned out to be the weekend. "We paid the fine amount on Sept 9. Our hearts sank when we saw our men returning with tonsured heads," said fishermen leader P Jesuraja.

Raja and the released fishermen said that they were treated like regular convict prisoners for the next three days. "They would call us ‘India' and ask us to clean the premises and clear the drainages," said Raja.

Fishermen leader R Sahayam charged the Union govt for not registering a strong protest on fishermen's arrest and treatment in Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, CPM has called for a protest at Rameswaram, which will be led by their party state secretary K Balakrishnan. CPM leaders from all coastal districts would be participating in the protest, said a statement.

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