Saturday brought stillness to Ramanathapuram’s bustling harbors as fishermen enforced a total strike, protesting the Sri Lankan Navy’s arrest of 22 locals in Palk Strait. Multiple associations united in urging India’s central leadership to broker an end to these disruptive maritime clashes.
Mechanized trawlers from Rameshwaram and Mandapam were targeted near Katchatheevu and Neduntheevu, with crews detained and court-remanded for 15 days. This sparked the shutdown, a stark reminder of fraying bilateral ties over fishing zones.
In Thangachimadam, 400 voices rose in protest, led by Jesu Raja who criticized New Delhi’s hands-off approach. He spotlighted Sri Lanka President Dissanayake’s recent India trip, advocating for direct PM Modi intervention to prevent recurrences.
Palk Strait’s riches have long fed these communities, but seizures—over 100 boats still captive—breed financial ruin. Court fines exacerbate woes, prolonging detentions and psychological tolls on families.
Demands rang clear for diplomatic finality, prompt releases, and vessel recoveries, preserving a way of life amid geopolitical strains.