Detained Indian fishermen to launch hunger strike

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 November 2006, 16:24 GMT]
About fifteen Indian fishermen currently detentioned in Anuradhapura remand prison informed Mannar court Thursday that they would start a hunger-strike if the authorities fail to release them immediately, legal sources in Anuradhapura said. The fishermen have been indicted with poaching in the territorial water of Sri Lanka.

The Indian fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) while fishing in Sri Lankan waters and handed over to Talaimannar Police. Mannar Court ordered them to be remanded in Anuradhapura prison.

The fishermen were produced before Mannar acting Magistrate Mr.M.P.Farook Thursday. They told court that they are being detained for several months and their families are facing severe economic hardship, struggling for daily meals and other basic facilities.

The fishermen charged that Indian High Commission in Colombo has failed to take steps to get them released.

The acting Mannar Magistrate assured them that he would take appropriate steps to dispose their cases quickly.

The court further ordered them to be remanded for another fourteen days, legal sources said.