On 02-05-2025, five fishermen—Anand, Murali, Saminathan, Vettrivel, and Anbarasan—from the villages of Vellapallam, Kodiakkarai, and Seruthur in Nagapattinam district, were brutally attacked in mid-sea by Sri Lankan Pirates while fishing near Kodiakkarai. Their belongings were looted, which is deeply shocking. The ongoing negligence by both the Indian Union and the Tamil Nadu state governments in protecting Tamil Nadu fishermen deserves strong condemnation.
For years, Tamil fishermen have been subjected to brutal attacks by the Sri Lankan Navy. Now, adding to their plight, attacks by Sri Lankan Pirates have begun—posing yet another grave danger to the Tamil fishing community.
How is it possible for these Pirates to bypass both Sri Lankan and Indian navies in such a narrow stretch of sea and attack Tamil fishermen—only to disappear without a trace? Is the Sri Lankan Navy, which relentlessly chases Tamil Nadu fishermen for allegedly crossing maritime boundaries, unable to catch these Pirates loitering in their own waters? Or are these so-called Pirates actually members of the Sri Lankan Navy in disguise?
If the Indian Navy claims it cannot protect Tamil fishermen from the Sri Lankan Navy, is it also incapable of protecting them from Pirates? If this country cannot protect its own citizens from Kashmir to Kodiakkarai, then what is the purpose of having an army or navy? Why spend crores of rupees on arms and defense equipment?
Why is it that the same people who panicked and reacted with urgency when Pakistani terrorists crossed the border and attacked Indian citizens now maintain an eerie silence when Sri Lankan Pirates cross into Indian waters and attack Tamil fishermen? Aren’t Tamils citizens of this country too? Or do we only speak up when there are deaths? Does anger or compassion depend on who is attacked and which country carried it out?
Can the Indian government provide any answers to these pressing questions raised by its own citizens? If it cannot even protect its own citizens through dialogue, then what is the point of maintaining friendly ties with Sri Lanka? Why does the Indian leadership show anger and enmity only towards Pakistan and not Sri Lanka when the same kind of attacks occur?
Instead of just writing another letter for formality’s sake, does Chief Minister Stalin, a “self-proclaimed” champion of state autonomy, have any alternative plan to protect Tamil fishermen? Even after ruling Tamil Nadu five times, the DMK has neither reclaimed Katchatheevu nor resolved the Tamil fishermen issue. Then what’s the point of staging drama around reclaiming #Katchatheevu? Is it just for the 2026 elections?
Therefore, I urge both the BJP-led Union government and the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government to take meaningful and effective action to protect Tamil fishermen. I also request that proper medical care and relief assistance be provided to the five affected fishermen.
– Seeman | Chief Coordinator | NTK
