Rs 10 Lakh Relief to Family of Rameswaram Fisherman

Chennai: Chief Minister M K Stalin announced a solatium of Rs 10 lakh from his general relief fund to the family of the fisherman, Malaisamy, who drowned in the sea on Wednesday after a Sri Lankan Naval patrol boat collided with the motorboat in which 59-year-old Malaiswamy and three others had set out for fishing from the Rameswaran fishing harbor.

Expressing shock over the incident, after which two fishermen were reportedly led away by the Sri Lankan Navy and another fisherman was missing, Stalin said that repeated letters to the Union Government to instruct the Sri Lankan government through diplomatic channels to stop harassing fishermen from Tamil Nadu had fallen on deaf ears.

The State government would take up the latest incident with the Union Government and get justice for the fishermen, he said in a statement on Thursday and wrote to Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressing deep concern and anguish over the tragic incident involving the fishing boat bearing the registration number IND-TN-10-MM-73 and a Sri Lanka Navy boat.

The death of a fisherman under such circumstances was both heartbreaking and unacceptable and it had left the fishing community devastated, he said, adding: ‘I earnestly hope that the matter will be given top priority that it deserves and prompt diplomatic action will be initiated in this regard.’

Urging the Union Minister to strongly take up the matter with Sri Lankan authorities and also expedite the repatriation of the mortal remains of Malaisamy to India, he said that apart from the loss of life, there were reports of injuries to two fishermen who were no in the custody of Sri Lankan authorities.

Requesting Jaishankar to ensure consular access, adequate medical care and support for bringing the injured fisherman back to Tamil Nadu at the earliest, Stalin said the frequent intimidations by the Sri Lankan Navy had created a sense of fear and anger among the fishing community.

The incident was clearly aimed at keeping Tamil Nadu fishermen away from their traditional fishing waters of Palk Bay and this had been brought to the attention of the Union Minister several times in the past, he said.

PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss, reacting to the incident, said that it was not an accident and urged the government to initiate murder charges against the Sri Lankan naval personnel. In a statement, he said the Union Government should not be a mere spectator to such attacks on fishermen from Tamil Nadu on the high seas but initiate measures to help them cast their nets without fear.