Summon Sri Lankan envoy and lodge protest: Jayalalithaa to PM

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Friday urged the Indian government to at least summon the Sri Lankan high commissioner and lodge a strong protest at the recurring attacks on Indian fishermen by the island nation's navy and fishermen.

In a letter to the prime minister, the text of which was released to the media here, Jayalalithaa said: "I consider that the least that the government of India can do is to summon the high commissioner of Sri Lanka in New Delhi and convey India's strong protest against and deep sense of disapproval over these unprovoked assaults upon and arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy continuing unchecked."

She said five fishermen from Nagapattinam district were brutally attacked on the high seas with pipes and sickles July 30 and are in hospital.

Jayalalithaa said that on July 30 and 31, the Sri Lankan Navy had arrested 31 Indian fishermen who where fishing on the high seas.

She said it was "clear that the Sri Lankan Navy is acting with impunity and carrying out unprovoked and illegal acts of abduction and detention of innocent fishermen from Tamil Nadu because of the total lack of response" from the Indian government.

She said it is disappointing that India has failed to lodge strong protest and sense of outrage at these continuing incidents of attack and illegal abduction of fishermen of Tamil Nadu on the high seas by the Sri Lankan Navy.