Katchatheevu

Sri Lanka must remove vessels near Katchatheevu: Vaiko

Chennai: MDMK general secretary Vaiko on Saturday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to ensure the immediate removal of Sri Lankan naval vessels from Katchatheevu island. In a letter to Singh, Vaiko said there were reports that Chinese vessels and Chinese navy personnel in Sri Lankan vessels had been spotted in the Palk Strait that divides India and Sri Lanka.

This, he said, "poses an impending challenge to the sovereign rights of India".

Terming the stationing of Sri Lankan battleships near Katchatheevu a trial balloon, Vaiko said: "The government should take up this serious issue with the Sri Lankan government and take appropriate steps so that the Sri Lankan naval vessels (are) withdrawn immediately."

Political parties in Tamil Nadu have been pressing the Indian government to cancel a 1974 agreement under which New Delhi ceded the island to Colombo....more    

Summon SL envoy over attack on Indian fishermen: Jaya

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha has demanded that india Should summon the Sri Lankan envoy over Sri Lankan Navy attacks on Tamil fishermen. She has urged for withdrawal of 1974 agreement with Sri Lanka. She has revived the demand for retrieval of Katchatheevu, an island on the Palk Strait ceded by India in 1974. ...  

SL attacks on Indian fishermen continue, Govt silent

Rameswaram: In the second such incident in two days, six Tamil Nadu fishermen were injured when they were allegedly attacked on Tuesday by the Sri Lankan Navy which also detained 13 others near Katchatheevu in the Palk Straits. Official sources said the Lankan Navymen attacked the fishermen with stones, nylon ropes and rods and took away their three boats. Gnanasekaran, who suffered head injury, has been admitted to a hospital...