India's Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) condemned reports that the Sri Lankan government is auctioning off fishing boats that have been seized from arrested Tamil Nadu fishermen.
PMK leader Ramdoss said "the act of the Island government has shocked Indian fishermen," in a statement this week, adding that 72 boats are currently being detained by the Sri Lankan navy.
Ramdoss went on to say that Sri Lankan troops had damaged the fishing vessels by kicking and colliding with them. An incident earlier this month led to an Indian fishing boat sinking after a Sri Lankan navy vessel collided with it.
Tamil Nadu fishermen, who had been arrested by Sri Lankan security forces, had been subjected to torture and detained for more than 90 days, continued Ramdoss, as he called on both the state and central governments to put a halt to the arrests.
See more from PTI here.
Also see our earlier post: Thousands of Indian fishermen launch hunger strike protest against Sri Lankan Navy (18 September 2014)
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