The ongoing tension between Indian fishermen and the Sri Lankan Navy has escalated once again, with 11 fishermen from Tamil Nadu being arrested on Friday for alleged maritime violations. The fishermen, who were reportedly fishing southeast of Kodiakarai in Nagapattinam district, were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy, and their boat was also seized.
This incident has raised significant concerns in Tamil Nadu, where the fishing community has long been plagued by such arrests. In response, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has expressed “grave concern” over the recurring incidents and has called on the Indian government to take immediate diplomatic action to secure the release of the fishermen.
CM Stalin’s Urgent Appeal to the Centre
In a strongly worded letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Chief Minister Stalin highlighted the distressing frequency of these incidents. “I am writing to you with grave concern regarding yet another incident of apprehension of fishermen from Tamil Nadu,” Stalin wrote. He pointed out that this is not an isolated incident but part of a troubling pattern that has persisted throughout the year.
Stalin emphasized that in 2024 alone, a staggering 324 fishermen and 44 boats from Tamil Nadu have been apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy. These frequent arrests, he noted, have severely disrupted the livelihoods of the fishing community in Tamil Nadu, leaving them in a state of constant uncertainty and hardship.
A Growing Crisis in the Fishing Community
The issue of fishermen being detained by the Sri Lankan Navy is a longstanding one, rooted in the complex maritime boundary agreements between India and Sri Lanka. Tamil Nadu fishermen often venture into the waters near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), which is not clearly demarcated in some areas, leading to frequent confrontations.
In his letter, CM Stalin also brought attention to recent instances of attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen by unidentified individuals from Sri Lanka. “In the past two weeks, there have been a couple of instances of attacks on fishermen at sea by unidentified persons from Sri Lanka, and this issue needs to be addressed immediately,” he wrote. These incidents add another layer of insecurity for the fishing community, which already faces the constant threat of arrest.
The Need for Diplomatic Intervention
Chief Minister Stalin has urged the Indian government to take swift and decisive action to resolve this ongoing issue. “I urge you to initiate immediate and concrete diplomatic efforts to secure the expeditious release of all our fishermen and their fishing boats,” Stalin appealed in his letter to the External Affairs Minister.
This call for diplomatic intervention underscores the urgency of the situation. The repeated arrests not only strain the relations between India and Sri Lanka but also threaten the livelihoods of thousands of fishermen in Tamil Nadu. As the situation continues to deteriorate, there is an increasing need for a long-term solution that ensures the safety and well-being of the fishing community.
