23 April 2013-In a written reply to the House, AK Antony(pic) said 125 Indian fishermen were detained by the Sri Lankan authorities for crossing over into their territory till April this year.
Government has been taking up the issue of attacks on Indian fishermen with Sri Lanka and asked it to ensure that its Navy acts with restraint and in a humane manner, Defence Minister AK Antony told the Lok Sabha today.
In a written reply to the House, he said 125 Indian fishermen were detained by the Sri Lankan authorities for crossing over into their territory till April this year.
“Government has been consistently taking up such issues with the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure that Sri Lankan Navy acts with restraint and our fishermen found near International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) are treated in a humane manner,” the Minister said.
He also noted that from time to time, there are reports of incident of attack on Indian fishermen, “allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy”.
To avoid recurrence of such incidents, he said, “Government has reached an understanding with the Government of Sri Lanka in Oct 2008 to put in place practical arrangements to deal with bonafide Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen crossing the IMBL.”
As per these arrangements, it has been agreed that there would be no firing on Indian fishing vessels and that Indian fishing vessels would not enter the sensitive areas designated by the Sri Lankan government along its coastline, Antony said.
On efforts by Indian Navy and Coast Guard (ICG), he said, “Under Operation Tasha, Indian Navy and Coast Guard ships are deployed continuously in Palk Bay area to prevent any illegal activities and also to protect the fishermen from any attacks, while they are fishing in Indian waters.” In reply to a separate question over piracy in Indian ocean, Antony denied that the incidents of piracy in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean are on the rise.
“No. However, a convoy coordination between the Indian, Chinese, Japanese navies, who are operating independently for anti-piracy in the Gulf of Aden, has been implemented with effect from January 2012,” the Minister said.
He was asked whether the incidents of piracy in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean are on the rise.
