Sri Lankan Navy arrests 23 Rameswaram fishermen, impound two mechanised boats; fishermen associations threaten to boycott Lok Sabha election
The Hindu
Sri Lankan Navy personnel arrested 23 fishermen, belonging to Rameswaram and Thangachimadam, and impounded two of their mechanised boats at a point near Neduntheevu
Sri Lankan Navy personnel on February 3 arrested 23 fishermen, belonging to Rameswaram and Thangachimadam, and impounded two of their mechanised boats at a point near Neduntheevu on charges of poaching.
Protesting the latest arrests, fishermen associations in Ramanthapuram district have called for a boycott of the upcoming Lok Sabha election. The associations also resolved to persuade their members against casting votes in the polling stations in their habitations.
According to information available, the Sri Lankan authorities have taken the 23 fishermen to Myliti Port. They are likely to be produced in a court.
Following this fishermen associations in the coastal district convened an urgent meeting.
According to Fisheries Department officials, 492 tokens were issued on Saturday from Rameswaram jetty.
The boats, belonging to J. Sahayaraj and A. James, in which 23 fishermen were engaged in fishing in the mid-sea, were held by the Sri Lankan Navy personnel on Saturday night. Subsequently, they were taken to the Port for inquiry.
Meanwhile, fishermen leader Jesu Raja told The Hindu on Sunday that in the recent past, arresting the fishermen along the Palk Bay waters by the Sri Lankan Navy had become a regular affair.
Political economist Parakala Prabhakar has described the exit poll results as “fudged figures”, saying that those would benefit the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) only. “False predictions were given with the sole objective of helping the NDA in rigging during the counting,” alleged Mr. Prabhakar, after releasing a book titled ‘Avineeti Chakravarthi Narendra Modi’ penned by former Minister Vadde Shobanadreeswara Rao, here, on June 2 (Sunday).