SL navy detains 12 Rameswaram fishers

Ramanathapuram: Sri Lankan navy apprehended 12 Tamil Nadu fishermen and seized a mechanised trawler for allegedly crossing International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) on Monday. Chief minister M K Stalin has urged external affairs minister S Jaishankar to secure the expeditious release of all the fishermen and their boats in Lankan custody. According to police, more than 500 fishermen ventured into the sea from Pamban fishing harbour on more than 90 mechanised boats. A boat belonging to David was fishing in the southern region of Gulf of Mannar when it was intercepted by Sri Lankan navy, which apprehended 12 fishermen. The vessel and the crew were escorted to Negombo harbour and handed over to department of fisheries. A chargesheet was filed against the 12 men under sections pertaining to crossing IMBL and use of banned fishing nets. They were produced before Puttalam court and remanded under judicial custody. The fishermen are currently lodged in Negombo prison.In his letter to Jaishankar, chief minister M K Stalin said that as of now, 116 fishermen and 259 boats belonging to Tamil Nadu are under Sri Lankan custody. These repeated incidents left coastal communities in a state of deep anxiety and uncertainty about their livelihood and safety. "I request the Union govt to take up this matter immediately through appropriate diplomatic channels to prevent further apprehensions and to secure the early release of all detained fishermen along with their fishing boats," said Stalin.