Provide security to TN fishermen

MADURAI: The Indian Coast Guard was directed by the Madurai Bench of the High Court on Friday to take action within 10 days to provide protection for Tamil Nadu fishermen against attacks by the Sri Lankan navy while at sea.In his petition, Stalin, an advocate, had said that Sri Lankan navy personnel were intruding into Indian waters and indiscriminately attacking Indian fishermen. Many fishermen had been killed, while many others had been maimed. The Sri Lankan navy personnel also loot the catch of TN fishermen and damage their boats and fishing gear. This had adversely affected the livelihood of the fishermen.He had said that Indian defence forces should provide protection for the fishermen and the Katchativu agreement should be abrogated. Similar pleas have also been filed by advocates Vanchinathan and V Kannan, who had also prayed for a directive to provide arms to the fishermen for self defence. A Division Bench, comprising Justice K N Basha and Justice M Venugopal, before which the petitions came up, in an interim order said that the sea tract between India and Sri Lanka was very narrow. In order to protect the fishermen who go fishing, Indian navy and Coast Guard should deploy its vessels in Indian waters and take out marine patrolling. They should take action within 10 days, the Bench directed. The Bench also observed that there were complaints that because of the frequent attacks in Indian waters, fishermen were unable to pursue their vocation peacefully. Therefore, the National Security Advisor, the Foreign Secretary and the Union Defence Secretary should initiate necessary action, the Bench directed.