Tamil Nadu: No Respite For Fisherfolk On Hunger Strike As Lankan Navy Delay In Returning Fisher's Body

Fisherman community continued their hunger strike in the Pudhukottai district demanding authorities to bring back the body of a fellow fisher and release the other two who are in the custody of SLN

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Chennai: The fisherman community continued their hunger strike on Friday in the Pudhukottai district demanding authorities to bring back the body of a fellow fisher and release the other two who are reportedly in the custody of the Sri Lankan Navy (SLN). Bringing this issue to the limelight and urging the Centre for a permanent solution to this issue, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin has written a letter to Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday (October 20).

Stalin on Wednesday tweeted, "Have written to Hon. Dr S Jaishankar, urging him to take all necessary steps immediately to release the two Indian fishermen from the trawler capsized by the Sri Lankan navy on 18th October and to trace & rescue the third fisherman aboard on the sunken vessel, who has been missing."

Have written to Hon. @DrSJaishankar, urging him to take all necesseary steps immediately to release the two Indian fishermen from the trawler capsized by Sri Lankan navy on 18th October and to trace & rescue the third fisherman aboard on the sunken vessel, who has been missing. pic.twitter.com/eG3rCWQ0VP

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) October 20, 2021

A 30-year-old fisherman, Rajkiran, from Kottaipattinam in Tamil Nadu's Pudhukottai district along with Sugunthan and Xavier went fishing into the sea on Monday (October 18). Rajkiran reportedly drowned that evening as his boat was hit by a Sri Lanka naval vessel. Two days later, the SLN in a statement said that they have rescued two fishermen and found a body.

"Sri Lanka Navy managed to rescue two fishermen aboard a sunken Indian fishing boat poaching in Sri Lankan waters across the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) northwest of the Kovilan Lighthouse in the evening of October 18,” the Lankan Navy said in a statement released on Wednesday, according to a report in The Indian Express.

Despite calling it a rescue operation, Lankan Navy hasn't returned the two fishermen and reportedly took them into custody. Also, Rajkiran's body wasn't returned which enraged the fisherfolk who were protesting against the atrocities by the Sri Lankan Navy. Agitated fisherman community started demonstrating hunger strike.