The fast unto death in Nagapattinam demanding the release of arrested Tamil fishermen and their boats in Sri Lanka intensified after 23 women, who participated in the strike from the coastal villages, fainted. They have been admitted to the Nagappattinam government hospital (GH) for treatment.

As many as 23 women from the fishing community from the coastal villages in Nagappattinam fainted during the indefinite hunger strike.

State fisheries minister K A Jayapal and the Nagappattinam district collector T Munusamy visited them at the hospital and enquired about their condition.

Meanwhile, as many as 5,000 fishermen continued their indefinite strike for the second consecutive day on Sunday. The fast will continue on Monday though their representatives have been granted permission to discuss the situation with the chief minister (CM) on Monday. G Manoharan, president of Akkaraipettai village, said their hunger strike will go on until they get a favourable decision from the CM about the fate of the 210 fishermen who have been jailed in Lanka. “We are fed up with the arrest and the ineffectiveness of both the centre and state governments. This time, we have decided to put an end to the problem by sacrificing our lives. Our representatives have been given an appointment to meet the CM on Monday. So, the strike will continue until they released,” said Manoharan.

Following the strike, fishing has come to an abrupt halt in the district. The strike and fast unto death were sparked off after 210 fishermen from Nagappattinam and Pudukkottai districts were arrested and 70 boats seized in Sri Lanka, Times of India reports.