Lanka denies its navy harassed Indian fishermen
Sri Lanka today denied that its navy had "harassed" Indian fishermen, a day after thousands of members of the community launched an indefinite strike in Tamil Nadu.
By PTI |
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka today denied that its navy had "harassed" Indian fishermen, a day after thousands of members of the community launched an indefinite strike in Tamil Nadu demanding an end to recurring incidents of attacks on them by the island's forces.
"The Government of Sri Lanka strongly refutes allegations contained in certain foreign media reports that the Sri Lanka Navy had detained and harassed Indian fishermen aboard fishing trawlers which had been detected poaching in Sri Lankan waters," the foreign ministry said here.
More than 900 fishermen from Rameshwaram were detained along with their 200 fishing boats by the Sri Lankan Navy at midnight on July 2 in Palk Straits and released the next day.
The Indian fishermen associations, which accused the Lanka navy of treating them "inhumanly", yesterday said they would continue the strike till security is provided to them while fishing in Palk Straits.
However, Colombo claimed that it had checked the 289 trawlers as it has "credible" information that the LTTE was attempting to use their presence for terrorist activities.
"At no point were the fishermen harassed by the Navy personnel or subjected to any humiliation as alleged in certain media reports," the ministry said in a statement.
It claimed navy's radars at Talaimannar and Delft island had detected approximately 300 Indian fishing trawlers "poaching in Sri Lankan territorial waters close to these places and heading towards the uncleared area of Vedithalthivu in Mannar on July 2."
After conducting inquiries, the trawlers were permitted to leave with the crew back into the Indian waters which is consistent policy of the Government of Sri Lanka and its Navy to treat fishermen apprehended in Sri Lankan waters in a humane manner, the statement said.
"The Government of Sri Lanka strongly refutes allegations contained in certain foreign media reports that the Sri Lanka Navy had detained and harassed Indian fishermen aboard fishing trawlers which had been detected poaching in Sri Lankan waters," the foreign ministry said here.
More than 900 fishermen from Rameshwaram were detained along with their 200 fishing boats by the Sri Lankan Navy at midnight on July 2 in Palk Straits and released the next day.
The Indian fishermen associations, which accused the Lanka navy of treating them "inhumanly", yesterday said they would continue the strike till security is provided to them while fishing in Palk Straits.
However, Colombo claimed that it had checked the 289 trawlers as it has "credible" information that the LTTE was attempting to use their presence for terrorist activities.
"At no point were the fishermen harassed by the Navy personnel or subjected to any humiliation as alleged in certain media reports," the ministry said in a statement.
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It claimed navy's radars at Talaimannar and Delft island had detected approximately 300 Indian fishing trawlers "poaching in Sri Lankan territorial waters close to these places and heading towards the uncleared area of Vedithalthivu in Mannar on July 2."
After conducting inquiries, the trawlers were permitted to leave with the crew back into the Indian waters which is consistent policy of the Government of Sri Lanka and its Navy to treat fishermen apprehended in Sri Lankan waters in a humane manner, the statement said.
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