The demand to release five fishermen who were sentenced to death in Sri Lanka is gaining momentum with fishermen, political parties, and student organisation conducting protest, fast and rail blockade on Wednesday in Puducherry.
In the hamlets of Kalapet, Chinna Kalapet, and Pillaichavadi, several fishermen did not venture into sea. They hoisted flag black on their boats kept in the coast. Similarly at Thengaithittu Fishing Harbour, the fishermen boycotted fishing, demanding the release of five fishermen.
K. Ganesan, fishermen panchayat president, denounced the Sri Lankan government for punishing innocent Tamil Nadu fishermen. “The Union government should intervene and release them,” he said.
Traffic was disrupted near Kottakuppam on the East Coast Road as several fishermen including women staged a sudden protest before the panchayat office. Hundred-odd students belonging to the Puducherry Students’ Federation conducted rail blockade at the Puducherry Railway Station.
The cadre of Vidhulathalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Puducherry unit staged a demonstration demanding the immediate release of those five fishermen. They also burnt effigy of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksha and shouted slogans against the Union government.
Su. Pavanan, organiser of VCK, Puducherry unit, said that the Puducherry government should not be mute spectator to the frequent attacks on Karaikal fishermen. He said that the territorial administration should urge the Union government to stop the attacks on fishermen of Karaikal by Sri Lankan Navy. At Cuddalore
About 900 fishermen, including 300 women, staged a black flag demonstration in the Cuddalore Port area here on Wednesday.
They demanded the release of the five Tamil Nadu fishermen who are facing death sentence in Sri Lanka on drug trafficking charges.
At Killai about 200 fishermen staged a demonstration for the same cause.
At Annamalai Nagar a section of 55 students who were about to start the “continuous slogan raising” protest in this regard were rounded up by the police.
The fishermen stated that those facing the death row in the island nation were innocent and drug trafficking case was foisted on them. They called upon the State and Central governments to take appropriate action for their immediate release.
