Wed Sep 11 09:39:25 UTC 2024: ## Sri Lankan Navy Rammed Tamil Nadu Fishing Boat, Injuring Four Fishermen
**Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu:** Four fishermen from Seruthur village in Nagapattinam district were injured after their fishing boat was allegedly rammed by a Sri Lankan Navy vessel on Tuesday night. The incident occurred off the southeast coast of Kodiyakkarai, while the fishermen were fishing within Indian waters.
The injured fishermen, identified as Sakthivel, Devaraj, Karthikeyan, and Satheesh, were admitted to the Nagapattinam Government Medical College Hospital for treatment. They reported that the Sri Lankan Navy left them struggling in the sea, injured and tangled in their nets. They were held for six hours by the Sri Lankan Navy, who questioned them before handing them over to other Tamil Nadu fishermen.
The collision caused significant damage to the fishermen’s boat, including the loss of nets, GPS equipment, cell phones, and other fishing gear worth Rs. 6.5 lakh. The capsized boat was later retrieved from the sea.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of Indian fishermen in the region. The Nagapattinam Marine Police are conducting an inquiry based on the fishermen’s statements.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has written to Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, urging him to secure the release of all Indian fishermen and boats currently in Sri Lankan custody. He also called for a waiver of the hefty fines imposed on them by Sri Lankan courts.
The Chief Minister highlighted that 350 fishermen and 49 fishing boats have been apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy in 2024, the highest number in the past six years. He urged the Central government to revive the India-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group on Fisheries to address the ongoing issues.
First Piper 