TN CM Stalin Urges Centre To Secure Release Of 17 Fishermen Arrested By Sri Lanka

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin also highlighted two separate incidents on December 20 where six unidentified Sri Lankan nationals attacked fishermen from Kodiyakkarai in Nagapattinam district. 

In 2024 alone, Stalin declared that 530 fishermen were arrested and 71 boats have been confiscated.

Source : Pixabay

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday urged the Central government to take swift action to secure the release of 17 fishermen from Rameswaram and their two mechanized fishing boats, seized by the Sri Lankan Navy on December 24. In a letter to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Stalin emphasised the urgent need for diplomatic intervention to address the escalating tensions faced by Tamil Nadu fishermen.

The Chief Minister also highlighted two separate incidents on December 20 where six unidentified Sri Lankan nationals attacked fishermen from Kodiyakkarai in Nagapattinam district. 

Tamil Nadu CM said, "I would also like to bring to your attention to two separate incidents of attack on our fishermen from Kodiyakkarai Village, Nagapattinam District by six unidentified Sri Lankan nationals on December 20. In this outrageous incident, three out of six fishermen who sailed in two country crafts were injured and their belongings such as GPS equipment, VHF equipment, fishing net, mobile phone and their fish catch were robbed from their fishing boats by the attackers."

இலங்கை கடற்படையினரால் சிறைபிடிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள மீனவர்களையும், அவர்களது மீன்பிடிப் படகுகளையும் உடனடியாக விடுவித்திட உரிய தூதரக நடவடிக்கைகளை விரைந்து மேற்கொள்ளுமாறு வலியுறுத்தி மாண்புமிகு ஒன்றிய அமைச்சர் டாக்டர் @DrSJaishankar அவர்களுக்கு மாண்புமிகு முதலமைச்சர் திரு. @mkstalin… pic.twitter.com/sX7sY7CYa3

— CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) December 24, 2024

The CM said that these kind of frequent incidents of arrests and attacks make the lives of fishermen, who depend solely on fishing in their traditional waters, highly uncertain and dangerous. 

In 2024 alone, Stalin declared that 530 fishermen were arrested and 71 boats have been confiscated. "The recent apprehensions and attacks have created a sense of fear among the fishing folks who are solely dependent on fishing for their livelihood. 1 therefore request you to kindly take concerted steps through appropriate diplomatic channels to secure the immediate release of all the arrested fishermen and their fishing boats. I also request that diplomatic steps may be taken to ensure that such attacks do not occur in future," the CM said.