Tamil Nadu CM Urges Centre to Secure Release of Fishermen From Pakistan Jail

Chennai: Chief Minister M K Stalin urged Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to take up the matter relating to the prolonged incarceration of 14 Indian fishermen, including seven from Tamil Nadu, in Pakistan in a tangible and meaningful manner through diplomatic channels and secure their immediate release.

In a letter to the Union Minister on Wednesday, Stalin said the Indian fishermen were arrested and their mechanized fishing boats bearing registration numbers IND-GJ-25-MM-3458 and IND-GJ-25-MM-1582 seized by the Pakistan Navy on January 03, 2024, when they had ventured for fishing from Porbandar in Gujarat.

Among the 14 apprehended fishermen, 7 fishermen belonged to Tamil Nadu, he said, adding, ‘It has been nearly 10 months since their incarceration, and there has been no communication regarding their status or the efforts being made towards their release.’

Stalin said the families of the fishermen were facing severe emotional and financial distress and were struggling to cope with the prolonged uncertainty of the arrested persons' release and the absence of the primary breadwinners had made the lives of the dependent families miserable.

‘Given the prolonged detention and the humanitarian concerns involved, I request you to take up this matter,’ he said.