Summon SL high commissioner, Jayalalithaa urges PM

Upset over the frequent incidents of abduction and arrest of fishermen from Tamil Nadu by the Sri Lankan navy, chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Friday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to summon the high commissioner of Sri Lanka in New Delhi and convey India's strong protest.
In her second letter to the Prime Minister in 24 hours, Jayalalithaa sought the Prime Minister's intervention in the incidents of 'unprovoked' assault on Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy.

The chief minister said it was clear that the Sri Lankan navy was acting with impunity and carrying out 'unprovoked and illegal acts of abduction and detention' of innocent fishermen from Tamil Nadu 'because of total lack of response from the Centre.'
"Unless the Centre takes positive and concrete steps to secure the release of fishermen, the deep sense of frustration among fishermen in Tamil Nadu is bound to escalate," Jayalalithaa said, pointing to her earlier letters seeking urgent action.

She said the Union ministry of external affairs had failed to take any steps to lodge a strong protest with the island nation.

Jayalalithaa cited three latest incidents involving attack and detention of Nagapattinam fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy on July 30 and 31. Five fishermen of Perumalpettai village were brutally attacked with pipes, sickles and other weapons by Sri Lankan fishermen. All of them had been admitted to the government district headquarters hospital in Nagapattinam, Jayalaltihaa said.

Twenty fishermen on three mechanised fishing boats from Nagapattinam were abducted and detained by the Lankan navy near Point Pedro. Another set of 16 fishermen on two boats were held near Mullaitheevu, she said. (The Times of India)