For the first time in the history of the India-Sri Lanka conflict over Tamil Nadu fishermen poaching in Lanka’s northern waters, fishermen of Jaffna on Tuesday took the law into their own hands and caught 18 trawlers, with 106 fishermen from Keechankuppam, Akkaraipet and Karaikal on board, off Point Pedro.
Indian officials in Colombo and S A Mahesh, president of the All Indian Traditional Fishermen Association, confirmed the report.
A Lankan naval spokesman refused to comment as the navy was not involved in the incident. “Local fishermen were involved and they handed over the captured Indian fishermen to the Point Pedro police,” is all he said.
The captured fishermen, who had set off on Saturday, were in custody at the Padithurai police station in Vadamaraachi locality. No incidence of violence had been reported so far.
At an emergency meeting, Tamil Nadu fishermen’s representatives decided to meet Chief Minister M Karunanidhi in Chennai on Wednesday and request him to arrange the release of their colleagues.
Thousands of fishermen of Nagapattinam kept off the sea on Tuesday night as a mark of protest.
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