Striking TN fishermen demand release of colleagues jailed in Lanka

Fishermen the Poompuhar area of Tamil Nadu's Nagapattinam District have reportedly gone on an indefinite strike over a demand for the immediate release of fellow fishermen lodged in jails in Sri Lanka.

Over 78 Tamil fishermen are lodged in jails in Sri Lanka and 72 fishing boats are in the custody of the Sri Lankan authorities. Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa has also said in a recent interview to an English daily in India that he will crack down on Indian fishermen violating Sri Lankan waters and exploiting his island-nation's marine resources and wealth.

The fishermen in Tamil Nadu are also demanding the release of their boats worth several crores of rupees as they claim that their livelihood has been severely compromised.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan courts have sent all 55 Indian fishermen arrested by the Navy yesterday to remand till September 25.

The fishermen were produced before a magistrate's court last evening and charged with violating the international boundary and poaching.

They were arrested in two separate incidents near Point Pedro and Thalaimannar on Thursday morning.

Earlier, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to give top priority to the Tamil fishermen and boat release issue.