Put pressure on Lanka to restrain Navy: AIADMK

Signed by 38 MPs and led by house leader M. Thambidurai, the letter said that TN fishermen were in a state of shock over the incident. It also said that the TN government expected the centre to act immediately and respond strongly. Narrating the incident, the letter stated that a mechanised vessel registered in Puducherry and bearing the number IND-PY -PK-MM-641 sailed from Karaikal fishing harbour on November 13. When the fishermen were fishing in their traditional grounds four days later, the Sri Lankan Navy personnel fired indiscriminately resulting in two fishermen – Aravinthan (20) of Nambiar Nagar, in Nagapattinam and Balamurugan (20) of Karaikalmedu in Puducherry sustaining injuries needing immediate hospitalisation. 

The letter lamented the fact that the incident occurred within 2 days of the talks between fishermen of the two nations on ways to enable fishermen of both countries to undertake fishing in a harmonious and peaceful manner.  Following the talks between Indian external affairs and agriculture ministers and Sri Lanka’s foreign affairs and fisheries ministers on November 5, a joint statement announced that “both governments agreed to the request of fishermen’s associations that there should be no violence and no loss of life in handling of the fishermen by both the navy and coast guards of the two countries.” 

The AIADMK MPs pointed out that the incident occurred despite the specific understanding reached at the minsters level, the letter added. The letter reiterated that the central government should not treat the IMBL (International Maritime Boundary Line) with Sri Lanka as a settled question, as the constitutionality as the 1974 ceding of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka had been challenged on valid and legal grounds in the Supreme Court.

Chief Minister V Narayanasamy today visited the government general hospital here to call on two Karaikal fishermen who were injured when the Sri Lankan Navy fired at them yesterday. Narayanasamy along with the Education Minister Kamalakannan met the injured fishermen Balamurugan and Aravind and consoled them. It may be noted that the two sustained injuries when the Sri Lankan Navy reportedly fired at them while they were fishing off the coast of Kodiakkarai near Karaikal yesterday. They were treated at the Karaikal Government general hospital and later shifted to the Puducherry government general hospital.

The Puducherry unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) today condemned the firing on Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy.  CPI (M) Secretary R Rajangam in a statement here said that, inspite of getting  an assurance that there will not be any attack on Indian fishermen in the meeting of the foreign Ministers of India and Sri Lanka held in New Delhi, this incident need to be condemned strongly. He said the Puducherry government has provided proper medical treatment to the two Karaikal fishermen and adequate compensation should also be provided to their families.