Mon Jan 27 14:10:13 UTC 2025: **Indian Fishermen Protest Sri Lankan Arrests; Demand Government Intervention**
RAMESWARAM, INDIA – January 28, 2025 – Fishermen in Rameswaram, India, are staging a protest following the arrest of 34 Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy on January 25th. The fishermen, who had been issued permits by the Indian Fisheries department, were accused of poaching. The arrests have sparked outrage, leading to a strike by Rameswaram fishermen, who are demanding immediate intervention from both the Indian and Sri Lankan governments to secure the release of their colleagues and their impounded trawlers.
A meeting of fishermen’s associations on Monday resulted in a resolution calling for immediate action. The fishermen plan to hold a larger demonstration on January 31st. The situation is further complicated by reports that fishermen from Karaikal and Nagapattinam have been fishing in disputed waters, provoking the Sri Lankan fishermen and leading to increased arrests of traditional fishermen from Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur, and Pudukottai districts.
The fishermen’s associations assert that the increased arrests are a direct result of this encroachment. They have appealed to both the Tamil Nadu and the central governments to address the issue promptly and prevent further conflict. The arrested fishermen are currently awaiting legal action in Sri Lanka.
First Piper 