Indian fishermen indulge in illegal acts in Lankan waters: Indian Coast Guard

MADURAI: In a stand that may not go down well in Tamil Nadu, the Indian Coast Guard on Monday told the Madras High Court that Indian fishermen indulged in illegal acts such as smuggling and trawling in Sri Lankan water resulting in action by the island nation''s navy.

Madurai, April

In a stand that may not go down well in Tamil Nadu, the Indian Coast Guard on Monday told the Madras High Court that Indian fishermen indulged in illegal acts such as smuggling and trawling in Sri Lankan water resulting in action by the island nation's navy.

In its reply to the Madras High court on a contempt petition for not complying with the court’s previous order of protecting fishermen, the maritime law enforcement agency said it has no jurisdiction on the Sri Lankan waters and can no longer protect them once the cross over.

The statement comes amidst raging debate and outcry from Tamil Nadu against the increasing attacks and arrests on fishermen from the state by the Sri Lankan army, for which the state’s politicians continue to call for action.

The Indian Coast Guard said that Indian fishermen were never attacked in the Indian waters, adding that neither the Coast Guard nor the Indian Navy allowed Sri Lankan vessels to breach boundary limits.

“After the culmination of civil war (in Sri Lanka in 2009), it is reported that Indian fishermen are resorting to smuggling contraband, including drugs, due to the developing relationship with their counterparts in Sri Lanka and better monetary returns for such practices,” the Coast Guard’s affidavit stated.

“They were also using banned methods of fishing, using high power motors, causing damage to Sri Lankan fishing gear and are caught in the act of smuggling contraband and other unlawful activities like mid-sea attack between Indian fishermen and their counterparts," the Coast Guard said.

With marine resources depleting in the Indian waters, Indian fishermen often breach the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) to enter Sri Lankan waters for better catch, leading to Sri Lankan naval action.

Quoting statistics, the Coast Guard said during 2014 and up to March 2015, the Sri Lanka Navy had impounded 185 boats and initiated action against 937 crew.

Likewise, it cited 36,865 instances of Indian fishermen poaching in the island nation’s waters, which the Sri Lankan Navy had then reported to the Indian High Commission.

The Indian Coast Guard provided 280 distress alert transmitters, besides giving emergency numbers to the fishermen but received no messages, the reply stated.

The court was hearing a contempt petition filed against the Union Cabinet Secretary and others for not complying with a previous court order in providing security for the fishermen. PTI