Arresting fishermen from Tamil Nadu appears to be a “routine” affair for the Sri Lankan Navy along the Palk Bay region and to put a permanent end to it, the Union government should deal toughly with the island nation and ensure the livelihood of fishers from the State was protected, said Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam principal secretary Durai Vaiko on Sunday.
In a statement, he said the lives of many fishers’ had been ruined due to the frequent arrests by the Sri Lankan Navy personnel on charges of poaching. The Naval authorities had also impounded their boats, fish nets and other gadgets, which had pushed them to severe economic loss.
After languishing as remand prisoners in Sri Lanka, they managed to get bail and return home. For the daily wage earners, it had been a harrowing experience and they were unable to come out of the trauma. The families were also in great trouble and poverty stricken due to the breadwinners’ arrest.
