‘Governments should help release 64 arrested fishermen from Sri Lankan prisons’

Families of 64 fishermen from Rameswaram, Thangachimadam & Mandapam, arrested by Sri Lankan Navy, began a 2-day hunger fast to urge Union & Tamil Nadu govts to help in their release & retrieve 10 boats impounded. Despite hardships, they hope for govts' help & an end to their trauma.

The Union and Tamil Nadu governments should help in the release of all the 64 arrested fishermen from the Sri Lankan prisons and retrieve the 10 mechanised boats by the Sri Lankan Navy, said speakers at a two-day relay hunger fast which began at Thangachimadam here on Monday.

About three weeks ago, the fishermen from Rameswaram, Thangachimadam and Mandapam in Ramanathapuram district, who ventured into the sea for fishing, were caught by the Sri Lankan Navy personnel on charges of poaching.

They were all sent to the judicial custody and the boats used by them impounded.

Since then, the fishermen associations had announced an indefinite strike and had been finding it extremely difficult due to non-working days and absence of wages.

Despite the difficulties faced by the families and children, who were put to untold hardships, the fishermen announced to call off their stir in view of the Deepavali festival and three days ago, they ventured into the sea.

Under such circumstances, the fishermen associations had announced a two-day hunger fast on November 6 and 7.

Participating in the agitation, fishermen leader P. Jesu Raja said that the Union and State governments should not push the fishermen to stage agitations, but help in times of crisis.