Sinister moves to stifle anti-terrorism efforts

by P. Krishnaswamy

Last week's spurious reports in a section of the Indian media that fifty Indian fishermen were killed by the Sri Lankan Navy drawing protests in Tamil Nadu were prompted by sinister motives at detering the concerted efforts by the two sides to prevent terrorist activities and other illegal activities across the Palk Strait, said an authoritative Naval source.

A week ago four Indian fishing trawlers were apprehended in the act of poaching in the Talaimannar coastal sea close to the mainland. "They were handed over to the police. The Sri Lankan Navy never opens fire at poaching fishermen as agreed to at talks between the two countries a few months ago, sources said.Since the imposition of sea security zone restrictions on Northern fishermen, Indian fishing trawlers and boats have been poaching in the traditional Northern fishing waters hauling tons of fish, especially prawns for export. This was reported to the Sri Lankan Navy and every time we tried to prevent it by apprehending boats and trawlers, it backfired out of proportion across the Palk Strait. These are facts known to the Indian coast guard and their Navy, the sources said.

Northern fishermen complained that not only were the poachers hauling huge quantities of prawns and fish in our fertile fishing fields but were also depleting marine resources by resorting to unconventional and prohibited fishing methods, sources said.