The families of Indian fishermen who have been arrested by the Sri Lankan military have gone on hunger strike in Puducherry, demanding their immediate release from custody.
Almost 50 family members of the detained fishermen from Karaikal went on hunger strike, reports The Hindu, including the mother of a 15 year old boy who is currently being detained by the Sri Lankan authorities.
“We got a call on December 8 that they were being detained by the Sri Lankan Navy,” said Murugeshwari from Karaikalmedu. “After that, there was no information about them. We want the Puducherry Government to take proactive measures to get the fishermen released and bring them back home along with the mechanised boat,” she said.
The protestors also criticised the Indian government’s response, with one protestor calling for the release of her husband and son from Sri Lankan detention.
“We do not know what measures have the government taken to resolve this issue,” said Devi, one of the hunger strikers. “No officials visited us except a MLA, who came only to console us. We are suffering without our family members.”
The protestors, who are being backed by the People’s Welfare Front, have also called for Katchatheevu to be back under Indian government control.
See more from The Hindu here.
Almost 50 family members of the detained fishermen from Karaikal went on hunger strike, reports The Hindu, including the mother of a 15 year old boy who is currently being detained by the Sri Lankan authorities.
“We got a call on December 8 that they were being detained by the Sri Lankan Navy,” said Murugeshwari from Karaikalmedu. “After that, there was no information about them. We want the Puducherry Government to take proactive measures to get the fishermen released and bring them back home along with the mechanised boat,” she said.
The protestors also criticised the Indian government’s response, with one protestor calling for the release of her husband and son from Sri Lankan detention.
“We do not know what measures have the government taken to resolve this issue,” said Devi, one of the hunger strikers. “No officials visited us except a MLA, who came only to console us. We are suffering without our family members.”
The protestors, who are being backed by the People’s Welfare Front, have also called for Katchatheevu to be back under Indian government control.
See more from The Hindu here.