Ten TN Fishermen Arrested By Sri Lankan Navy Return Home

Ten fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly crossing the maritime borders near the Bay of Bengal on August 6 arrived at Chennai airport on Tuesday morning.

After completion of their health checkups and RT-PCR tests, the fishermen were brought to Chennai on a flight.

The fisheries department officials had arrived at the Chennai airport to welcome the fishermen. They had even arranged transportation facilities for the fishermen to take them back to their hometown, Nagapattinam.

The Sri Lankan Navy had arrested the fishermen when they were fishing in the Bay of Bengal near Mullaitivuwhen. The coast guards of the Sri Lankan Navy confiscated their boats by accusing them of fishing in the international waters that fall under Sri Lanka. Later, a Sri Lankan court ordered their release on August 21.

Uproar in TN over frequent arrests of fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy
There has been repeated uproar in Tamil Nadu over frequent arrests made by the Sri Lankan Navy of fishermen who fish near the islands of Katchatheevu, etc. Recently, when Union Home Minister Amit Shah was in the state, he even made remarks about how the BJP government has taken all efforts and drastically reduced the violence against Indian fishermen.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister MK Stalin in a recent conference with the Tamil Nadu fishermen made strong comments against the Union government. Stating that the “Modi government is a weak government”, the CM criticised the Centre for allegedly not taking any efforts to bring down the arrests of the fishermen and confiscation of the boats and equipment, which he said resulted in the loss of livelihoods for the fishermen in the state.