Why is Katchatheevu island center of debate for Sri Lanka, India?
Why is Katchatheevu island center of debate for Sri Lanka, India?
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Katchatheevu is a small, uninhabited island located in the Palk Strait, which connects the Bay of Bengal with the Arabian Sea. It is a disputed territory between Sri Lanka and India that was claimed by India until 1976 and is currently managed by Sri Lanka. Volcanic eruptions in the 14th century developed Katchatheevu island.

Katchatheevu island was possessed by the Raja of Ramnad (present-day Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu), and it later became part of the Madras Presidency. Both Sri Lanka and India claimed this section of land for fishing in 1921, and the conflict has yet to be resolved. During British government, the 285-acre area was governed jointly by India and Sri Lanka.

For a long time, fishermen from both countries have been fishing in each other's waters without incident. When India and Sri Lanka signed maritime boundary accords, the issue arose. The accords defined India's and Sri Lanka's international maritime border.

Between 1974 and 1976, then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi signed four Maritime Boundary Agreements with Sri Lankan President Srimavo Bandaranaike, ceding Katchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka.  In response, the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution in 1991 seeking the return of Katchatheevu Island.

In 2008, Tamil Nadu's then-chief minister, Jayalalithaa, took the centre to the Supreme Court, requesting that the Katchatheevu agreements be declared null and void.

Indian fisherman utilise the island, which is about 10 miles northeast of Rameshwaram, to dry their nets, catch fish, and rest. The number of border arrests has increased, and Sri Lankan authorities have stated that they are protecting their marine borders from poaching and ensuring the livelihood of Sri Lankan fishermen. Under no circumstances will either party use force. The violent situation, however, has not changed.

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