Fishermen in Nagapattinam and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamil Nadu launched protests on Monday in response to a mid-sea attack allegedly carried out by Sri Lankan individuals. The Fishermen Association of Nagapattinam president, Soundaraajan, reported that the protests were initially concentrated in these two districts but warned that fishermen from across Tamil Nadu would join if the state and central governments did not take appropriate action against the attackers.
The attack occurred late Saturday night while the fishermen were at sea, resulting in the assailants seizing valuable items such as fishing nets, GPS devices, mobile phones, and a substantial catch. The victims, identified as four brothers – Pradeep (34), Prakash (32), Praveen (30), and Thirumurugan (27) – were fishing in their father Sabapathi’s boat near Point Calimere. A motorboat with seven individuals reportedly confronted them, demanding their belongings. When the fishermen refused, they were subjected to a violent assault with lethal weapons, leaving them injured.
The injured fishermen were subsequently admitted to the Nagapattinam Government hospital, and a police case was registered at the Velankanni police station. RMP Rajendira Nattar, President of the Indian National Fishermen Union, expressed strong suspicions about the involvement of the Sri Lankan government in the assault. He criticized the silence of the Union government on such attacks and called upon the Sri Lankan government, emphasizing their friendly relations with India, to take action against the assailants.
This incident highlights ongoing tensions and conflicts between Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen in the region, often related to territorial disputes and fishing rights. Such clashes have long been a source of contention between the two countries, requiring diplomatic efforts to address the underlying issues and prevent future confrontations.