Sunday, January 8 2006 17:23 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today (Jan 8,2006) demanded taking of Kachatheevu island in the gulf of Mannar on perpetual lease to put an end to the problem of Sri Lankan Navy attacking Indian fishermen.

In a letter to the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Jayalalithaa said she had been repeatedly emphasising the Centre to find out a long term and permanent solution to the 'burning issue of violence against the poor fishermen of Tamil Nadu in the Gulf of Mannar'.

'Such indiscriminate and murderous attacks on the fishermen, who venture into the sea in search of their livelihood is against all canons of natural justice and violates their human rights. The Centre must find a final and lasting solution to the problem since it involves the question of traditional rights of fishermen', she said bringing to his notice on the Sri Lankan navy attack on fishermen this morning in which one was wounded.

She said four fishermen of the Rameswaram coast were attacked by Sri Lankan Navy at about 3 am and took away their fish catch.

"One fisherman, Andrews, sustained bullet injuries while others escaped. The wounded fisherman was undergoing treatment at Government hospital, Rameswaram, "she said.

She demanded the Centre to take up the issue with Sri Lankan Government and register a strong protest against the 'inhuman act'.

Fishermen depended mainly on fishing in the waters around the Kachatheevu. The traditional rights and privileges of fishing by Indian fishermen should be recognised, she said.