Rameswaram fishermen back to sea after 12-day stir

Fisheries department official said the fishermen had ventured into the sea in about 600 mechanised boats from Rameswaram fishing jetty. However, it is said to be just one third of fishermen who would usually go for fishing.  Sesu, a fishermen leader, claimed that only 250 boats had entered sea on Wednesday. The fishermen community representatives claimed that it was due to the atrocities of Sri Lankan Navy that the number of fishermen had reduced. The fishermen, who had been on an indefinite strike since July 22 demanding the release of 77 fishermen and 113 fishing trawlers detained by Sri Lanka, decided to call off their stir, after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj assured a fishermen delegation, which met her at New Delhi recently that the Indian government would secure the release of all the boats impounded by Sri Lanka and protect their livelihood.  The incarcerated fishermen were recently released by Lanka on a goodwill gesture.