Date:20/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/20/stories/2008112054180500.htm

Tamil Nadu

Fishermen go on indefinite strike

M. Balaganessin

PUDUKOTTAI: Fishermen of Jegadapattinam in the district launched an indefinite strike on Wednesday, protesting against the arrest of 17 fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy personnel on Monday night. They demanded the Centre’s immediate intervention to release them.

The president of the Jegadapattinam Fishermen Welfare Association, G. Ramakrishnan, said about hundreds of fishermen participated in the strike. They would not venture into the sea till the issue was resolved. He wanted the State and Central governments to ensure safety to the property and lives of fishermen while fishing in the sea.

According to one of the fishermen, who was fishing in the vicinity, “in fact, the Sri Lankan Naval officers had arrived at the scene with the lights of their boats switched off.”

Collector, Reeta Harish Thakkar, said the State government had initiated action for getting the fishermen released from Sri Lanka. A delegation of fishermen from Jegadapattinam has left for Chennai to impress upon the government the need for releasing the fishermen.