Blaming the Union government squarely for the arrests and impounding of trawlers by Sri Lankan Navy, the Tamil Nadu fishermen on Saturday said that they would intensify their agitations.

The fishermen have not been venturing into the sea for the last week due to the ‘continued’ arrests under charges of poaching. On Independence Day, they observed a token fast in Thangachimadam with families and children.

On Saturday, the Ramanathapuram district administration had invited the striking fishers for a talk. However, it failed, they claimed.

Speaking to media persons, fishermen leaders Emerit, Jesu Raj and among others said that the Union government had not taken any tangible steps to solve the issue with Sri Lankan government over the last five years or a decade. As a result, hundreds of fishermen were arrested and trawlers impounded.

Under such circumstances, they told the officials that without any assurance from the governments, they would not withdraw the stir. In the last two months alone, 64 fishermen were arrested. On top of it, the fishermen were also jailed for six months to two years depending on the charges of repeating the offence.

Hence, they announced to go ahead with the rail blockade stir on August 19.