Bomb attack sinks boat, 4 fishermen escape in Katchchatheevu

The information we are receiving from India is not so much good on fisheries. Chandrika Sharma, Executive Secretary of ICSF forwarded the message below is very much disturbed our minds and the work.
As we want to have a serious work between two countries on cross boarder issues, we will have to face serious repurcussions with these type of incidents. WFFP, NFF,ARIF, NAFSO, ICSF and many other concern organizations, trade unions need to take serious attention on this.

NAFSO will take serious attention with ARIF for implement the plans we prepared to intervene the issue.
Here is the report on this incident as appeared in the Hindu News Paper.

Herman Kumara,
07.04.10

http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/07/stories/2010040763210400.htm

C. Jaishankar


RAMANATHAPURAM: Four fishermen had a narrow escape when a mechanised boat in Rameswaram was sunk, allegedly by a group of Sri Lankan fishermen.
According to a complaint lodged by the fishermen, who managed to escape, the attack was carried out near Kachchatheevu on Monday. The boat [TN-10 MFB 263] owned by Stalin of Rameswaram sank within moments of a bomb blast triggered by the fishermen reportedly belonging to Delft Island near Kachchatheevu. The fishermen were identified as Stephen (43), Mehallan (25), Alex (25) and Prabu (26) of Rameswaram.
T. Ilamvazhuthi, Assistant Director of Fisheries, Rameswaram, told The Hindu that a preliminary enquiry had revealed that a group of Sri Lankan fishermen, reportedly hailing from Delft Island, carried out the attack opposing the practice of pair trawl net fishing, which was banned. It was stated that fishermen from Delft Island and the nearby islands had earlier warned the Rameswaram fishermen not to follow pair trawling, which might damage the nets cast by them and affect marine wealth in the bottom of the ocean.
There was a report that the boat that was attacked was among a pair of boats, which had cast pair trawl nets.
The fishermen could escape as the attackers blasted the boat after asking them to jump and board the other boat.
The fishermen said their fishing gear and the day's catch were also sunk. Mr. Ilamvazhuthi said the incident was the first of its kind after a gap of nearly three years.
Search order demanded
The fishermen had demanded a search order to locate the boat.
However, a decision would be taken only after collecting all information related to the incident.
Tough action would be taken against those following pair trawl practice, he warned.