Tamil Nadu CM urges Jaishankar to secure fishermen's release

Chennai: Chief Minister M K Stalin, drawing the urgent attention of Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to yet another incident of the arrest of eight fishermen from Tamil Nadu, urged him to expedite diplomatic efforts to secure the quick release of all Indian fishermen and boats in Sri Lankan custody.

In his letter to Jaishankar on Tuesday, Stalin said that the mechanised fishing boat bearing Registration No. IND-TN-10-MM-34 was also seized by the Sri Lankan authorities on Monday, taking the total number of fishermen in custody to 116 fishermen and boats to 84 boats.

‘The alarming recurrence of such incidents has caused immense distress to the families of the arrested fishermen and has further exacerbated the livelihood problems faced by Indian fishermen,’ the Chief Minister said.

The livelihood of the fishermen depended on the sea and such arrests not only affected the well-being of the fishermen but also jeopardized the well-being of their families back home, he said.