Stalin seeks PM’s intervention to release fisherfolk

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention to secure the release of 28 Indian fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy.

In his semi-official letter to the PM, Stalin drew his immediate attention to the most recent apprehension of 12 Tamil Nadu fishermen along with their two mechanised fishing boats by Sri Lankan Navy on March 23 and said that about 28 fishermen and 4 fishing boats have been apprehended by Sri Lankan Navy so far this year.

Saying it was highly disheartening to note that Indian fishermen were facing harassment at the hands of the Sri Lankan Navy at an alarming frequency, Stalin said that the apprehension of Indian fishermen continues despite several letters of protest sent by the Government of Tamil Nadu highlighting the “escalation in the number of such instances of arrests of our fishermen.”

Stating that the arrests and violent attacks on Indian fishermen take place unabated despite the diplomatic initiatives taken by the Government of India, the CM said, “Under these circumstances, I urge your (PM) personal intervention in this matter and request that the authorities concerned may be directed to take effective steps to secure the release of all the 28 fishermen and their fishing boats that have been apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy.”

The CM said that a concrete and timebound plan must be drawn up to permanently end the repeated attempts by the Sri Lankan Navy to infringe on the fishing rights of Tamil Nadu fishermen in Palk Bay.