October 24, 2021
2 mins read

Decision to release 2 Indian fishermen in Lankan custody on Nov 1

The two fishermen hail from Kottaipattanam and Pudukottai in Tamil Nadu and were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy on October 18….reports Asian Lite News

The decision to release two Indian fishermen from the custody of the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), will be taken on November 1.

The Sri Lankan Navy said on Saturday that legal proceedings were underway at Kayts Magistrate Court.

The two fishermen hail from Kottaipattanam and Pudukottai in Tamil Nadu and were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy on October 18.

According to the Sri Lankan Navy, Indian fishing boats crossing the IMBL were chased away but the boat in which the three Indian fishermen — Suganthan, Xavier, and Rajkiran were fishing did not heed to the Navy and crossed into the Sri Lankan waters. The boat hit the Naval vessel and Raj Kiran was drowned but the other two, Suganthan and Xavier were taken into custody by the Sri Lankan Navy to Jaffna in Northern Lanka.

However, the Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu who were fishing in other boats close to ‘Suresh’, the boat in which the three Indian fishermen were in, said that the Sri Lankan Navy had deliberately collided with the boat used by the Indian fishermen and that Rajkiran was killed by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Prabhakaran, a fisherman from Kottaipattanam, Tamil Nadu who was close to the boat in which three fishermen were in, said that Raj Kiran was killed by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Meanwhile, the body of Rajkiran was handed over by the Sri Lankan naval officials to the Indian side at the IMBL. The body was brought into Kottaipattanan on Saturday where hundreds of people including Rajkiran’s mother, wife, and other relatives were present when the body was brought to Kottaipattanam. The body was later cremated the same day.

Tamil Nadu law minister S. Raghupathy visited the residence of Rajkiran and handed over a cheque for Rs 10 lakh sanctioned by the Chief Minister M.K. Stalin as solatium to the family of the deceased fisherman.

The minister also promised to provide a job to Rajkiran’s wife, Brinda, who is a qualified lab technician. Pudkottai district collector Kavitha Ramu also paid her last respects to Rajkiran.

Fishermen in Kottaipattanam, Pudukottai called off the agitation they were conducting since the news of Rajkiran’s tragic death and the arrest of Suganthan and Xavier was received in the mainland.

Murugesan, leader of the fishermen association of Kottaipattanam while speaking to IANS said, “We are calling off the agitation for the time being after talking to the officials who visited us. We were expecting all three of them coming back together, however, Rajkiran’s body was what we received but we trust the word of the officials and are expecting the other two to reach back home safely in a few days’ time.”

ALSO READ: Lanka becomes first country to send its flight with monks to Kushinagar

Previous Story

Tax on farm income; Pakistan succumbs to IMF

Next Story

‘US, India plot against CPEC’

Latest from -Top News

Ramaphosa gains from US showdown

South African President’s conduct with Trump reminded South Africans of his diplomatic pedigree, and of his importance to the country’s rules-based order South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa and his delegation went to

Armed gangs kill dozens in Nigeria

A local state governor said “scores” of people had been killed in the attacks, which also saw homes and properties destroyed. Northeast Nigeria has been gripped by a deadly wave of violence

Children die as USAID aid cuts snap a lifeline

Trump administration cut more than 90% of USAID’s foreign aid contracts and $60 billion in overall assistance around the world. Programs serving children were hit hard Under the dappled light of a
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Russia lauds India, global south

Lavrov says proposals by the developing world are based on

Omar to contest polls from Ganderbal seat

Omar Abdullah had come to Nuner village of Ganderbal district