MADURAI: The Sri Lankan Navy handed over two fishermen and the mortal remains of a third fisherman, who died in a mid-sea collision between an Indian trawler and a Sri Lankan patrol vessel, to the Indian Navy near the International Maritime Boundary Line early Saturday morning.
The Indian Navy Ship, INS Bitra, which was deployed off the Rameswaram coast, coordinated with the Sri Lankan Navy ship to receive the fishermen and the deceased at sea.
INS Bitra then proceeded to Rameswaram, where a naval officer from the Naval Detachment in Rameswaram coordinated with the Coastal Security Group (Marine Police) and the state government’s Fisheries Department to transfer the mortal remains and repatriate the two fishermen around 3 a.m.
The incident occurred when the Sri Lankan patrol vessel, attempting to apprehend a fishing trawler, accidentally sank it, throwing the four-member crew—M. Mookaiah, 54, from Nallankulam in Virudhunagar district; R. Muthu Muniyandi, 57; K. Malaisamy, 59; and V. Ramachandran, 64, both from Rameswaram—into the water.
Malaisamy died in the incident, while Ramachandran went missing early Thursday morning.
The Ministry of External Affairs lodged a strong protest with the Sri Lankan authorities over the incident, while chief minister M. K. Stalin announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the family of the deceased fisherman.
As search and rescue operations for the missing fisherman continue, Rameswaram fishermen announced an indefinite strike on Friday, demanding the return of Malaisamy’s body and the repatriation of the two fishermen held in Sri Lankan custody without facing charges.
They also called for compensation for the boat owner whose vessel sank in the accident.
In this context, the Sri Lankan Navy handed over the body and the two fishermen to the Indian Navy.