43 TN fishermen abducted mid-sea

In yet another mid-sea high-drama, this time off the Nagapattinam coast, another lot of 43 fishermen from Tamil Nadu were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy after they allegedly crossed the elusive International maritime boundary line (IMBL) and taken to North Sri Lanka.

This is the third attack on Tamil Nadu fishermen in the last few days, evoking strong protests by political parties here. Top official sources in Nagapattinam told Deccan Herald over phone on Thursday evening that all the 43 apprehended fishermen have been detained in Trincomalee.

 The fishermen, mainly from Keechankuppam, Akkaraipettai and Karaikal fishing villages, had put out to sea for fishing in six boats in the wee hours of Wednesday, but their non-return a day later shocked their kin back home.    

While fishermen of Nagapattinam struck work today, protesting the Sri Lankan Navy’s action, the latter claimed that the anglers were apprehended as they had strayed into Sri Lankan waters not far away from Kodiyakarai.   Indian Authorities immediately took up the issue at the highest level after which the missing Tamil Nadu fishermen were traced to Trincomalee, the sources said.

“All the 43 fishermen are safe; they are not in a jail, but taken care of well. we have completed the negotiations with the Sri Lankan Authorities and we have been assured that all of them will be handed over to us on Jan 27th morning,” State Government officials added.