MADURAI: As a step to prevent recurring attacks on Indian fishermen in the Palk Straits, Coast Guard today suggested a 'no fishing zone' along the Indo-Sri Lanka International Maritime Boundary Line, with punitive measures for defaulters.In a counter-affidavit in the Madurai bench of Madras High Court, Inspector General of ICG (Deputy Director General, Operations and Coastal Security) V S R Murthy gave the example of Gujarat which had put in place such a zone along five nautical miles on the Indo-Pak IMBL. Similar strict orders are needed for this IMBL to avoid illegal cross border fishing.Listing steps taken by ICG after the court's interim direction to provide adequate security by increasing number of ships, he said an additional ship had been deployed on the Indian side of Palk Straits.He said additional air cushion vehicles, interceptor boats and interceptor craft have been deployed during sustainable sea conditions. The Coast Guard station at Mandapam had also held proactive community interaction programmes, sensitising fishermen of consequences of poaching in Sri Lankan waters.During enhanced patrolling by ICG, Sri Lankan Navy had reported numerous instances of a large number of Indian fishermen operating in their waters, he said and submitted statistics in this regard.He said Tamil Nadu fisheries authorities had reported to ICG of attacks on Indian fishermen, which are being investigated. He alleged that fishermen had sensationalised alleged incidents, instead of seeking help from ICG or navy.Murthy said it was also pertinent to mention that Sri Lankan newspapers had carried news of Indian fishermen destroying their fishing nets, resulting in retaliatory attacks by Lankan fishermen.He contended that no Sri Lankan naval vessel intruded into Indian territory as it would amount to contravene the legal treaties of years 1974 and 1976.Fishermen crossing IMBL may be potential target for non state actors towards anti-National activities, he said, adding they could use Indian fishing vessels to orchestrate serial blasts, as in Mumbai.The Additional Solicitor General said the court could dismiss the petition as the Coast Guard had made additional security arrangement.Counsel for the petitioner, who sought a direction to the Coast Guard and navy to protect Indian fishermen, said there had been 13 attacks and that the court had even given an interim direction to increase security for them.He said the navy was rescuing Indians in Somalia, but not doing anything to protect Tamils and claimed that 1000 people had been killed in Lankan naval attacks in the Palk Straits.He sought to know how the Lankan Navy could attack them when Indian fishermen had the right to fish and dry their nets in and around Katchateevu as per the agreement.Justices K N Basha and M Venugopal directed Coast Guard to provide security to fishermen to fish in Indian territory without prejudice to the Katchatheevu agreement.The case had been posted for hearing on December 8.
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