Jayalalithaa seeks PM's help in fishermen issue

Chennai: Chief minister J. Jayalalithaa on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to secure the release of 29 fishermen and 94 fishing boats including five fishermen from Nagapattinam apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy on Thursday.

In her letter to Modi, Ms Jayalalithaa said that there are already 24 fishermen and 93 fishing boats of TN fishermen languishing in Lankan custody. The Sri Lankan strategy of not releasing the boats of our fishermen is causing great frustration amongst the fishermen of Tamil Nadu. “I urge you to take this up with the highest authorities of the Sri Lankan government and ensure the immediate release of the precariously berthed boats and the fishermen. This is to bring to your notice one more incident in which 5 fishermen in a motorised fishing boat, who set sail from Vilundamavadi fishing base of Nagapattinam district have been apprehended by Lankan Navy on 23.6.2016.

The boat drifted ashore to Valvettithurai, Sri Lanka, due to an engine snag following which the five fishermen were arrested and remanded by the Sri Lankan government and their boat detained. This appears to be an inhumane act of arresting fishermen in distress at sea, the letter said.

Denying our fishermen the right to peaceful fishing in their traditional waters of the Palk Bay to which they have a historical claim is causing considerable angst amongst the TN fisherfolk.