Fishermen of Rameswaram today decided to hold a series of agitations from July 22, pressing for a charter of demands including the release of their 77 colleagues held by Sri Lanka. A resolution to this effect was passed at the meeting of fishermen associations of Rameswaram, Secretary of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Confederation of Fishermen’s Associations, NJ Bose said. The fishermen said they would hold a series of agitations on July 22, 26 and 28 in all fishing hamlets in and around Rameswaram, to draw the attention of the Centre and the state government towards their demands including the release of 77 fishermen and 103 boats from Sri Lankan custody. Besides, they sought compensation from the Sri Lankan government for the damage caused to 18 mechanised boats released recently by the authorities of the island nation. On July 12, the fishermen associations had announced the withdrawal of protest keeping in mind the livelihood of the fishermen.
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