Rameswaram fishermen strike to condemn Lankan Navy firing

Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, Jun 4 (UNI) A section of fishermen went on a day-long token strike here in response to a strike called by their local associations today in protest against the firing by Sri Lankan Navy personnel that killed an Indian fisherman on Monday.

The busy Rameswaram fishing jetty wore a deserted look as 1,500-odd mechanised fishing boats kept away from venturing into the sea this morning.

An uneasy calm prevailed in the coastal hamlets. Though the situation was tense, it was well under control following the deployment of additional police force in the sensitive areas.

The fishermen associations sought the assistance of the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government to put an end to the 'high-handedness' of Sri Lankan Navy against the innocent Indian fishermen, failing which they threatened to launch an indefinite strike.

M Sandhyagu (21), a fisherman from Thangatchimadam coastal hamlet here died in the indiscriminate firing by Sri Lankan naval personnel from a vessel at mid-sea near Katchatheevu island, triggering a wave of protest from the fishermen.

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