Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday wrote another letter to Primer Minister Narendra Modi after five fishermen who, in a mechanised fishing boat set sail from Pudukottai district, were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy on Thursday and were reportedly taken to Sri Lanka.
He urged Modi to take immediate steps to free them and their boats. “I strongly urge you to personally intervene and take up the issue of alarming and frequent abduction of our fishermen in their traditional waters with the highest authorities in the Sri Lankan government so as to ensure the safety and security of Indian fishermen in the Palk Bay from Tamil Nadu,” Palaniswami said in his letter.
The Chief Minister also requested Modi to secure the immediate release of 54 fishermen and 140 fishing boats, including the 46 fishermen and their nine mechanised fishing boats apprehended recently without any delay.
“The State government is extremely concerned about the continuing instances of apprehension and detention of our fisherment. So far, in 2017, 317 fishermen and 62 fishing boats have been apprehended in 59 incidents and 263 of these fishermen have been released after considerable persuasion by the Union and State governments.
-Indian Express-
