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No Attacks on Indian Fishermen in Indian Waters: MEA

07 Jan 2012 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Central Government today informed the Madras High Court that Indian fishermen may have been attacked in Sri Lankan waters, but no such incidents were reported in the Indian territory.

In a counter affidavit to a writ petition and a contempt plea for not implementing an earlier order of the high court to provide adequate security to fishermen from Tamil Nadu, an official of the Ministry of External Affairs said such alleged attacks might have taken place in Sri Lankan waters.

Deepak Mittal, Director (BSM), Ministry of External Affairs, sought dismissal of the writ petition and the contempt petition filed by B Stalin, an advocate, and noted that the petitioner's claim regarding attacks on Indian fishermen as mentioned in the main writ petition had not been proved.

The Indian Naval and Coastguard ships on patrol did not come across incidents where Indian fishermen were fired at in Indian waters. The International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) was regularly patrolled by ships and aircraft, he said.

He also submitted that there was no willful disobedience of the court order. In fact, the Navy and Coastguard had taken all possible steps to comply with the order of the court in letter and spirit and the alleged attacks might have taken place in Sri Lankan waters, the counter said.

Mittal said discussions would be held on a Memorandum of Understanding on Development and Cooperation in the field of fisheries with Sri Lanka.

He also said it had been agreed to convene a meeting of the India-Sri Lanka Joint working group on fisheries as early as possible and also resume dialogue between the representatives of Fishermen's associations of both countries to understand each others problems better and arrive at a workable solution.

Even the Tamil Nadu Government had passed an order in 2000 stating that crossing the IMBL (by fishermen) would constitute an offence and attract fine, he said. (PTI)

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No Attacks on Indian Fishermen in Indian Waters: MEA

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