Fishermen from Rameswaram and Mandapam fishing harbours in Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathapuram district have declared an indefinite hunger strike at Thangachimadam from Friday, demanding the immediate release of their colleagues and boats detained by Sri Lankan authorities.
The decision, made during a meeting today, includes calls for the release of all detained Indian fishermen, including those previously sentenced and currently languishing in Sri Lankan prisons, as well as the 32 fishermen arrested earlier this week.
On Sunday, 23rd February 2025, the Sri Lankan Navy apprehended 32 Indian fishermen from Rameswaram, along with their boats and advanced communication equipment, for allegedly trespassing into Sri Lankan waters near Thalaimannar and engaging in illegal fishing activities using prohibited gear.
Following their arrest, the fishermen were produced before the Mannar Magistrate on Monday, where they were remanded in judicial custody until 7th March 2025.
These latest arrests have further strained tensions between Tamil Nadu’s fishing community and Sri Lankan authorities, with Indian fishermen consistently facing arrests, boat confiscations, and harassment by the Sri Lankan Navy in the Palk Strait.
In protest against these arrests, Rameswaram’s mechanised boat fishermen announced an indefinite strike, which has now entered its second consecutive day, bringing fishing operations in the region to a complete halt.
The hunger strike in Thangachimadam is a continuation of the escalating protests, with Tamil Nadu’s fishermen demanding that the Indian government take urgent diplomatic action to secure the release of those detained and prevent further arrests by Sri Lanka.
The ongoing crisis highlights the unresolved maritime conflict between India and Sri Lanka, with Tamil Nadu’s fishermen often finding themselves at risk of detention and attacks by Sri Lankan naval forces in contested waters.
Despite repeated diplomatic engagements, the arrest and remand of Indian fishermen remain a recurring issue, fuelling anger and frustration among Tamil Nadu’s fishing communities, who continue to demand concrete action and long-term solutions from the Indian government.
