CHENNAI: Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday urged the union government to ensure the early repatriation of the Indian fishermen arrested in Sri Lanka recently.
Drawing union external affairs minister S Jaishankar's attention to the repeated instances of apprehension of Indian fishermen by Lankan Navy, Stalin said that the attacks on the fishermen have been on the rise of late and have had serious repercussions on the lives and safety of the Indian fishermen.
Citing the apprehension of 12 fishermen from Nagapattinam harbour and 13 others from Karaikal by Lankan Navy on December 9, Stalin, in his demi official letter to the MEA on Monday, said that another fishing boat bearing Registration Number IND-TN-10-MM-558 was damaged by the patrol vessel of the Sri Lankan Navy.
"Therefore, I request you to direct the Indian mission in Sri Lanka to initiate urgent measures to repatriate the apprehended fishermen and their boats," the Chief Minister said.