RailEnquiry

“Women should lead the fight, as it is we who suffer when our men get attacked,” said a fisherwoman, negotiating her way through the long line of protesters that snaked along the dirt-laden railway tracks.On Monday, in an emotive show of solidarity, an estimated 2,500 fisherfolk marched their way onto the tracks to halt the Ernakulam-Karaikal Express, in protest against the last week’s attacks on the Nagapattinam fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy.Banners hosting pictures of the bruised fishermen injured in the Wednesday’s attacks off Kodiakarai coast were on full display, as the protesters climbed on the engine of the train, even as the perimeters were manned by a large posse of police deployed in full force in the station.Framing the battle lines clearly on ethnicity, the fisherfolk challenged the “Sinhalese army” and condemned the Centre for its alleged “abetment” of attacks on the “Tamil” fishermen. The Congress leadership, including the Prime Minister, came under flak for the alleged ‘inability’ to curb the attacks.Women participated in equal numbers, and the trope of ‘widowhood’ dominated the sloganeering that also called for unbridled fishing rights in the waters around Katchatheevu. The protest lines were rendered fluid with the fisherfolk condemning Sri Lankan establishment for ‘genocide’ and calling for action against the Sri Lankan President. In a demonstration of solidarity, fishing habitations in Porayar and Sirkazhi have called for similar strikes and boycotts.