Lankan navy threatens, attacks TN fishermen

Sri Lankan Naval personnel today allegedly threatened and attacked local fishermen fishing near Katchatheevu, a senior functionary of a fishermen association said.
About 100 boats went for fishing this morning but Lankan Naval personnel allegedly started attacking the fishermen by throwing stones and warned them against fishing in Lankan waters, T Sesuraja, Rameswaram fishermen association president, said.
As a result they returned without fishing, he said.
Yesterday, seven fishermen from a coastal village in Nagapattinam district were arrested by Lankan navy while fishing near Kodiyakari.
The series of arrests of fishermen had led Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking immediate release of the fishermen.

Jayalalithaa had renewed her plea for nullifying the "unconstitutional" Indo-Sri Lankan Agreements of 1974 and 1976 and demanded that steps be taken to restore the traditional rights of Indian fishermen.
She also reiterated her demand for retrieval of Katchatheevu islet ceded to Sri Lanka to protect the fishing rights of Tamil Nadu fishermen.