Days after an alleged mid-sea attack left eight fishermen from Nagapattinam injured, the ordeal of Tamil Nadu fishermen at the hands of the Sri Lankan navy came to the fore again on Tuesday, after a group of 16 from Rameswaram were allegedly detained mid-sea. Their cell phones and catch were also taken away. However, the Lankan Navy, which detained the Rameswaram fishermen on charge of trespassing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), released them, without following the proper procedure, hours later.
Lankan navy personnel took them to Neduntivu in Lanka. They were subsequently released. As per normal procedure, fishermen detained by the Lankans are handed over to the Indian Coast Guard.
But, a Lankan navy ship merely escorted them on board to the IMBL. The ICG was not intimated and the three vessels reached shore without escort. However, the Lankan navy allegedly took away fish catch and cell phones from the 16 men. They finally reached Rameswaram at 2 pm.
Fisheries Department officials reportedly told the fishermen not to divulge anything to journalists. Hence, they left the Rameswaram jetty in a hurry, without lodging formal complaints with the fisheries officials.
The fishermen were released by the Lankan navy and a preliminary report has been prepared, an official said, while adding that the Department would soon conduct an inquiry with the 16 fishermen.
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