Latest news with #SriLankanNavy
India Today
28-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
MK Stalin says retrieving Katchatheevu key to ending Tamil Nadu fishermen arrests
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday retrieved that retrieving Katchatheevu from Sri Lanka is the only lasting solution to protect the traditional rights of Tamil Nadu fishermen and end their the past four years alone, 1,083 Indian fishermen have been arrested, and 185 boats seized by the Sri Lankan Navy, Stalin said.'I've written 77 letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar urging their release,' he added, noting that DMK MPs and alliance members have raised the issue repeatedly in 'That is why 1354 fishermen were released while actions are still being taken to get the rest 23 released. 229 fishing boats that were seized by the Lankan Navy since 2018 have not been released', said MK his government's compensation efforts, the Chief Minister announced that financial aid for seized boats has been increased. Trolley boat owners will now receive Rs 8 lakh (up from Rs 5 lakh) and country boat owners Rs 2 lakh. For 2024-25, compensation has been paid to 73 seized trolley boats and 9 country boats. The daily stipend for the families of fishermen arrested or missing at sea has also been doubled from Rs 250 to Rs 500, he April 2, the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a special resolution calling for the retrieval of Katchatheevu. 'We are taking all necessary steps to protect our fishermen's traditional fishing rights,' Stalin said. 'The only permanent solution is to retrieve Katchatheevu.'The Chief Minister also said that 39 students from fishing communities have been given special coaching to help them prepare for the UPSC civil services Watch IN THIS STORY#Tamil Nadu
India Gazette
22-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
TN: Sri Lankan Navy allegedly harasses Nagapattinam fishermen in mid-sea
Nagapattinam (Tamil Nadu) [India], May 22 (ANI): Fishermen from Seruthur village in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu have alleged that they have been harassed by the Sri Lankan Navy personnel when they were fishing southeast of Kodiakkarai in a fibre boat. During the incident, Sri Lankan Navy personnel reportedly rammed their vessel into the Indian fishing boat and seized fishing nets worth Rs2.6 lakh, a GPS device, a walkie-talkie, and other equipment. The fishermen alleged that the Sri Lankan naval patrol ship also cut their fishing nets, seized the fuel from their boat, and engaged in a clear act of harassment. Fishermen Shanmugam, Jayaraman, Sakthimayil, and Manimar, who lost their fishing gear and equipment, have since returned to the shore in fear. Tamil Nadu fishermen getting arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy is a recurring instance, for which the State leadership has sought a permanent solution from the Centre, even by retrieving Katchatheevu island, located in Palk Bay, from Sri Lanka. In April this year, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution, urging the Union government to take steps to retrieve the Katchatheevu island. The resolution moved by Chief Minister MK Stalin said, 'Retrieval of Katchatheevu island is the only permanent solution to protect the traditional fishing rights of Tamil Nadu fishermen and to mitigate the sufferings faced by them due to the Sri Lankan Navy.' On March 27 this year, the Sri Lankan Navy apprehended 11 Tamil Nadu fishermen and took them to Kangesanthurai Naval camp for investigation, officials said. Earlier on March 20, 13 Tamil Nadu fishermen who were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly fishing outside the approved boundaries returned home to India after being handed over by the Indian Embassy in Colombo. The group of fishermen were arrested on February 26 and was produced in Mallakam court in Sri Lanka, kept imprisoned for nearly a month. Additionally, three fishermen were also admitted to a government hospital in Sri Lanka due to sustaining injuries. The Sri Lankan court reportedly released 13 fishermen on March 12 after talks between the two sides. On February 23, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed concern over the increase in the capture of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, urging the Centre to convene a Joint Working Group (JWG) to find a permanent solution to the issue. (ANI)
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- The Hindu
Refugee caught by Sri Lankan Navy
A Sri Lankan refugee from Mandapam Rehabilitation Centre who sailed to Sri Lanka in a fibre boat was arrested by Sri Lankan Navy near Neduntheevu on Monday afternoon. According to police, Thangaiya Selvaraj, 61, of Mannar in Sri Lanka fled to Rameswaram during the economic crisis that prevailed in the island nation in 2022. He was accommodated at the Mandapam centre as a refugee. The police said he was working as a labourer for a fisherman in Mandapam. Taking his employer's fibre boat, Thangaiya Selvaraj tried to sail through the sea to Mannar. But he was caught midway at Neduntheevu by a Sri Lankan Navy patrol boat.
