Fishermen families block road, seek justice for those arrested

Fishermen families demand release of arrested fishers, seek government intervention and justice, deny crossing maritime boundary.

Hundreds of fishermen families led by women on Saturday staged a road blockade on the Madurai-Rameswaram National Highway, demanding the release of the fishermen who were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy two days ago. They sought the Union government’s intervention in the issue, and justice for the arrested fishers. “Our survival is at stake and we are in an insecure state,” Sesu Raja, a fishermen association leader, said.

The women, who were gathered at the protest site, denied the charge that the arrested fishermen had crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line. “Will they [the fishermen] take a risk when the consequences are so severe,” they asked. They also appealed to the Sri Lankan government to consider their request for a high-level talk between fishermen from the Northern Province of the island nation and a delegation of fishermen from Tamil Nadu. The agitators dispersed after the police intervened. Meanwhile, fishermen associations in Rameswaram have announced that they would resume work from Monday.