Fishermen on the Tamil Nadu coast are gearing up for another bout of confrontation with Sri Lankan authorities as the latest arrest of men has soured hopes of better ties. In Rameswaram, fishermen have commenced an indefinite strike demanding the release of detained men and boats.
Meanwhile, Indian fishermen detained by Sri Lankan authorities on Saturday and Sunday were produced before Mannar and Kytes court. Among the 86 apprehended, the court released five fishermen who were rescued by the Sri Lankan Navy after their boat had drowned in the Palk Strait. The 81 fishermen in custody have been remanded till June 16 and June 20 respectively. In Rameswaram, fishermen have commenced an indefinite strike from Monday demanding the release of detained men and boats.
This year alone, 383 fishermen and 86 boats from India were detained by Sri Lanka, and most of them were released subsequently. Only, 86 fishers and 24 boats are currently in Sri Lankan custody.
Till last year, Indian fishermen used to be booked on minor charges of trespassing; however, Lanka is now slapping stronger sections. Cases of poaching marine wealth and theft, which can invite severe punishment like imprisonment and confiscation of boats and fishing gear, are now being charged against detained men, fishermen sources said. Though fishermen are released after some time after government intervention, stringent cases enable them to retain boats, said U Arulanandam of Alliance for Release of Innocent Fishermen.
Between 2008 and 2010, only 40 cases of trespass were filed against Indian fishermen. The figure almost doubled to 76 during 2011-13. So far this year, 11 cases were filed against Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan courts at Mannar, Kytes, Kangesanthurai, Puthalam and Trincomalee. Post trial, fishermen are locked up in Jaffna, Anuradhapuram and Vavunia prisons, Arulanandam stated.
Usually, Indian fishermen trespassing into Lankan waters are apprehended by personnel based at naval bases at Kalpatti, Talaimannar, Kytes, Kangesanthurai and Trincomalee, fishermen in Rameswaram said.
Explaining the procedures involved in the arrest and release of fishermen, M Thirunavukkarasu, a retired Sri Lankan district judge, said a document called B-Report with the details of fishermen is filed before the court. Based on the charges, the court will remand the arrested fishermen. When government orders the release of fishermen, attorney general will file a submission about the government order on release, based on which magistrate will order the release of fishermen, he said.
Such cases will be closed after the release of fishermen, the retired judge added. The procedure is called “action dropped” and “suspect released” by the court, said Arulanandam, Times of India reports.
* 383 Indian fishermen and their 86 boats were detained by Sri Lankan navy so far this year
* 24 boats and 86 fishermen are in Lankan custody now
* On Monday, a Lankan court ordered the release of five Indian fishermen
* 11 cases have been filed against fishermen this year, while it was 76 in all between 2011 and 2013
* Last year, around 801 fishermen were detained, but they were released later
* Till last year, detained fishermen were charged with trespassing and under the Passport Act. Now, SL authorities are slapping poaching and theft charges on Indian fishermen
* On June 7 & 8, 86 fishermen and 18 boats were apprehended
