CHENNAI: Chief Minister M K Stalin on Tuesday requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to initiate necessary diplomatic steps to secure the early release of 16 Indian fishermen and their 102 fishing boats apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy.

In his demi-official letter written to the Prime Minister on Tuesday morning, Stalin drew the attention of the apprehension of 16 fishermen along with their two mechanised fishing boats bearing registration no IND-TN-08-MM-81 and IND-TN-06-MM-7818 by Sri Lankan Navy on March 12, Stalin said, “This is the third incident of attack/arrest of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan nationals/Navy within a month and as you are aware, these fishermen are solely dependent on their fishing activity for livelihood and such frequent incidents shatter the livelihood of poor fishermen and also create fear psychosis in their mind.”

The Chief Minister also sought the personal intervention of Modi to “ensure that the traditional fishing rights of our fishermen are protected permanently and such that these incidents do not recur.”

Pointing out that 102 fishing boats of Tamil Nadu are under the custody of Sri Lanka as on date and six fishing boats which were released by Sri Lanka are yet to be repatriated back to India, Stalin requested Modi to initiate “necessary diplomatic steps to secure the early release of all the 16 fishermen and 102 fishing boats that were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy.”

Recalling his earlier letters addressed to the Union External Affairs Minister who has taken up the matter with the Lankan government, he said that despite such steps being taken by the Government of India, such incidents continue to take place.

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