Chennai, Dec 12 – Expressing concern over the continuous attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen and their arrests by the Sri Lankan Navy, Chief Minister M.K.Stalin on Monday wrote to External Affairs Minister Dr.S.Jaishankar seeking the release of 25 fishermen apprehended by the Lankan Navy.
In a Demi-Official letter to Dr Jaishankar, he requested him to take necessary steps to repatriate the apprehended fishermen and their fishing boats.
“I would like to draw your immediate attention to the repeated instances of arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy”, he said.
“In the recent incident, a mechanized fishing boat along with 12 fishermen from Nagapattinam Fishing Harbour were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy on December 9. In addition to the above, 13 fishermen (3 from Nagapattinam, 2 from Mayiladuthurai and 8 from Karaikal) from Karaikal were also apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy the same day”, Mr Stalin said.
Another fishing boat bearing was damaged by the patrol vessel of the Sri Lankan Navy, he said. Pointing out that the attacks on fishermen has been on the rise of late and have caused serious repercussions on the lives and safety of our fishermen, the Chief Minister requested him to direct the Indian mission in Sri Lanka to initiate urgent measures to repatriate the apprehended fishermen and their boats.
