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Chennai police arrest Kachchativu-bound TN activists
View(s):Barely a week after thousands of Indians were allowed to land at Kachchativu island to participate in a Catholic feast, some 350 persons from Tamil Nadu, who were planning to storm the islet by force, were arrested by the Chennai police yesterday.
The group were activists from the Makkal Viduthalai Katchi, led by party founder M.L.A. Murugavel Rajan. They were waiting to board boats to the islet, after taking part in a rally from the Municipality office to the sea coast, when they were arrested, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported yesterday. The activists earlier burnt an effigy of President Mahinda Rajapaksa in protest against continued attacks on Indian fishermen, allegedly by the Sri Lanka Navy.
They alleged that over 550 fishermen had been killed, and the only solution was to retrieve Katchchativu. Murugavel Rajan condemned Minister Douglas Devananda for his threat to mobilise Sri Lankan fisherman for a mid sea rally off the Rameswaram coast. The party also demanded that India support the U.S.-backed resolution in the United Nations, against Sri Lanka, for violation of human rights.
“No one will be allowed to take this island by force. Such threats should be dismissed with ease, because the Navies of both countries will prevent such a move”. Navy Spokesman, Kosala Warnakulasooriya told the Sunday Times.
He added that, even if the group had set out to sea, they would have been stopped at the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). (LB)
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