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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
14 TN fishermen held by Sri Lanka; CM seeks Centre's intervention
Ramanathapuram: As many as 14 fishermen from Rameswaram and Pamban were arrested by the Sri Lankan authorities in two separate incidents on Tuesday for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). Chief minister M K Stalin wrote to Union external affairs minister S Jaishankar, urging immediate diplomatic intervention to secure the release of the detained fishermen and their boats. In the first incident in the early hours of Tuesday, five fishermen aboard a mechanised boat were apprehended by the Sri Lankan navy near the Mannar region, and handed over to the authorities for further action. The arrested were identified as boat owner J Justin, 51, of Thangachimadam, S Denison, 39, and S Sekar, 55, from Pamban, and J Mobin, 24, and T Saimon, 55, from Rameswaram. Later, nine more fishermen who were fishing near Puthalam in a motorised country boat that departed from Pamban on Monday, were apprehended. The fishermen have been identified as K Raja, 44, of Thangachimadam, G Anandam, 49, R Murugadas, 41, and R Sannimel, 27, of Rameswaram, M Ariyappan, 38, of Mandapam, Tikshan, 24, of Pamban, W Murugesan, 51, of Tuticorin, S Kottesami, 45, and P Murugan, 42. In his letter to Jaishankar, Stalin noted that this was the fourth such incident in July and that "repeated apprehensions have caused significant economic and emotional distress" to affected families. He pointed out that currently 235 fishing boats and 68 fishermen from Tamil Nadu are in Sri Lankan custody. "I urge you to address the matter with urgency through appropriate diplomatic channels," the chief minister wrote. Fishermen's associations and leaders have expressed concern over the continued arrests. Jesu Raja, a leader from Rameswaram, said at least 40 fishermen and six boats were apprehended by the Sri Lankan navy since the end of the fishing ban. Members of the Mechanised Boat Fishermen Welfare Association held a protest in Thangachimadam, demanding central govt intervention. President of Tamil Maanila Congress, G K Vasan also condemned the arrests, calling them "a gross injustice" to Tamil Nadu's fishing community. He urged the Centre to ensure the release of all fishermen and boats and to convey to the Sri Lankan govt that such harassment must not continue.
India Today
6 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
14 Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested by Sri Lankan Navy, Stalin writes to S Jaishankar
14 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy today for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). Along with the fishermen, their mechanised fishing boats were also response to today's arrests, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has written to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, urging him to take swift diplomatic measures to ensure the immediate release of the fishermen and their incident comes close on the heels of a similar episode last week, when four fishermen from Rameswaram were arrested and their boat was confiscated. On that day, about 400 fishermen had ventured into the sea from Rameswaram Fishing Port in 88 boats. While fishing in the waters between Thalaimannar and Dhanushkodi, a Sri Lankan Navy patrol vessel intercepted one of the boats. The boat, said to belong to a fisherman named Muniyasamy, was seized and the four men on board were arrested. After a preliminary inquiry, the arrested fishermen were expected to be handed over to Mannar Fisheries Department officials for further January 2025 alone, at least 185 Indian fishermen have been arrested and 25 boats seized for alleged violations of the maritime boundary.- EndsMust Watch
New Indian Express
15 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Sri Lankan navy arrests five Rameswaram fishermen for IMBL violation
RAMANATHAPURAM: The Sri Lankan navy arrested five Indian fishermen hailing from Rameswaram for alleged violation of IMBL on Tuesday morning. The Fishermen's Association condemned the continuing arrest of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan government. Sources said that the boat bearing the registration number IND TN 10 MM 960 owned by J Justin (56) of Manthoppu area in Thangachimadam, was caught by the Sri Lankan navy for entering the SL waters. Boat owner Justin along with four Indian fishermen, were arrested by the Sri Lankan navy. Four fishermen were identified as S Denson (36), J Mobin (24), T Simon (50) and Sekar all hail from Rameswaram and Pamban area. Official sources said that over 320 Mechanised boats from Rameswaram fishing harbour ventured into the sea on Monday.
Hans India
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Five TN fishermen arrested by Sri Lankan Navy
Five Tamil fishermen from Rameswaram were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and fishing in Sri Lankan territorial waters near Neduntheevu (Katchatheevu) in the early hours of Tuesday. According to sources in the local fishermen's association, the fishermen had ventured into the sea on Monday night in a mechanised boat and were fishing near Katchatheevu when they were intercepted by a Sri Lankan Naval patrol. The Sri Lankan Navy personnel took the five men into custody and seized their boat. The arrested fishermen are likely to be taken to Kankesanthurai or Talaimannar, where they will be handed over to local authorities for further legal procedures. This is the latest in a series of such incidents involving Tamil Nadu fishermen being apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy. In mid-July, seven fishermen from Rameswaram were arrested under similar circumstances, and their boat was also confiscated. They were later remanded to judicial custody in Vavuniya. Earlier this year, in February, 32 fishermen were detained in a single operation, and five boats were seized. The repeated arrests have sparked concern among the fishing community in Rameswaram, who say their livelihoods are being disrupted. 'The sea is our only means of survival. Every time someone is arrested, it creates fear among others,' said a representative of the fishermen's union. Fishermen's associations have repeatedly urged both the Indian and Tamil Nadu governments to take up the issue with Sri Lanka and ensure a long-term solution. They have also called for the retrieval of confiscated boats, which represent a significant financial loss for the families involved. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has in the past written to Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, seeking strong diplomatic intervention to secure the release of arrested fishermen and prevent such incidents in the future. With tensions persisting in the Palk Strait, the issue continues to pose a major challenge to the safety and livelihood of Tamil Nadu's coastal communities.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Time of India
Four TN fishermen arrested by Sri Lanka for trespassing
1 2 3 Madurai: Four fishermen from Rameswaram were detained by the Sri Lankan navy in the early hours of Tuesday for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and engaging in fishing near Talaimannar. According to officials from the fisheries department, the fishermen - M Thangaraj, 40, T Lingam, 59, K Selvam, 50, and N Irulandi, 50, were part of a larger group that ventured into the sea on Monday evening from the Rameswaram fishing harbour. They were fishing on a mechanised boat owned by M Muniyaswamy when they were intercepted by the Sri Lankan navy near Talaimannar in the early hours of Tuesday. After being detained, the fishermen were taken to the Talaimannar naval camp and later handed over to the Mannar district fisheries department officials. They were arrested on charges of crossing the maritime boundary and allegedly using banned fishing nets. They were produced before the Mannar magistrate court, which ordered their remand till Aug 1. The four fishermen are currently lodged at the Vavuniya prison. According to fisheries department sources, a total of 26 fishermen from Rameswaram were arrested by Sri Lankan in the past month alone. J R Jesu Raja, leader of the Rameswaram Fishermen Association, condemned the arrests, stating, "The fishermen had no intention to violate international boundaries and currently 26 fishermen were detained in the past one month. The Sri Lankan navy is harassing them under the pretext of enforcement." He appealed to both the Union and state govts to take a firm stand and ensure the safety of the fishermen.
