Chennai:

The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 11 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu for alleged maritime violation, and Chief Minister MK Stalin flagged the matter with the Centre on Saturday, seeking immediate steps for their release.

One boat was also taken into custody.

In a letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Mr Stalin said, “I am writing to you with grave concern regarding yet another incident of apprehension of fishermen from Tamil Nadu.” The fishermen were apprehended while fishing southeast of Kodiakarai in Nagapattinam district, he said.

“I have repeatedly highlighted that such incidents are occurring at an alarming frequency. In 2024 alone, 324 fishermen and 44 boats were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy. The fishing community in Tamil Nadu continues to face immense hardships due to the recurrent arrests, which severely affect their means of subsistence,” he said.

Further, in the past two weeks, there have been a couple of instances of attacks on fishermen at sea by unidentified persons from Sri Lanka, and this issue needs to be addressed immediately, the Chief Minister added.

“Therefore, I urge you to initiate immediate and concrete diplomatic efforts to secure the expeditious release of all our fishermen and their fishing boats,” Mr Stalin told Mr Jaishankar.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Chennai:

Chief Minister MK Stalin on Saturday wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar over the arrest of 35 Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lanka and sought decisive action to secure their release.

Thirty-five fishermen from Ramanathapuram district were arrested on August 9 by Sri Lankan Navy and their four motorised country boats were also seized, Mr Stalin said in a letter to S Jaishankar, conveying deep anguish and concern.

“I wish to recall that just recently a delegation from Tamil Nadu that included the MPs and fishermen representatives met you after we had lost two fishermen. It is distressing to note that despite this, there has been no significant relief or respite in this regard. It is imperative that stronger diplomatic measures be pursued to ensure the immediate release of Tamil Nadu fishermen and to establish a more permanent solution to prevent such incidents from recurring,” said Mr Stalin.

The safety and security of coastal communities must be a priority, and “I hope that the government of India will take decisive action to secure the release and repatriation of all the apprehended fishermen and their fishing boats.”

The ongoing detentions of fishermen are not only causing immense hardship to the affected families but is also creating a “pervasive sense of fear and uncertainty in our coastal communities.”

Furthermore, the CM said the “psychological and financial toll on these families is devastating, and it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to continue their traditional way of life.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Chennai:

The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday requested the Centre to secure through diplomatic channels the release of four fishermen from the state detained by the Kuwait Coastal Police.

The men belonging to Ramanthapuram district have been incarcerated in the prison there since their arrest on December 5, last year and Chief Minister M K Stalin had already flagged their arrest and demanded their immediate release, state Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena said.

In a release, he reminded that the chief minister had in a letter dated February 9, sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention in ensuring the release of the fishermen by initiating diplomatic efforts.

“Since the men have not been released despite the state government’s repeated insistence, the Chief Secretary wrote a reminder letter to the External Affairs Secretary in this regard,” the release said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)