Fishermen from six coastal districts in India have decided to lay siege to Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission at Chennai on Monday to draw attention to their long-pending demand of releasing their fishing boats from Sri Lankan custody.

They declared an indefinite strike that commenced on Friday, halting all fishing activities involving mechanized trawlers in the coastal districts.

At present, 27 state fishermen and 81 fishing trawlers, including nine boats from union territory Karaikal, are in Sri Lankan custody.

They were held on charges of poaching in Sri Lankan territorial waters. The fishermen for long have been demanding the release of their boats and had observed the Republic Day by conducting a day-long hunger strike at Nagapattinam. They are also demanding compensation from central government for 18 boats that sustained damages and sunk in Palk Strait after apprehended by Sri Lankan navy.

(Times of India)