Chennai
The Rameswaram Fisherman Association reported that 22 fishermen from Tamil Nadu were detained by the Sri Lankan Navy for fishing near Neduntheevu in Sri Lankan waters on Sunday. According to the association, several fishermen set out to sea from Tamil Nadu on Saturday.
While fishing near Neduntheevu in the Palk Bay area, the Sri Lankan Navy arrived early in the morning and seized three boats belonging to fishermen from Thangachimadam, the association confirmed.
Earlier, on June 19, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote a letter to Union Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar urging for the immediate release of all detained fishermen and their boats by Sri Lanka. He highlighted the arrest of four fishermen from Tamil Nadu who were captured by the Sri Lankan Navy on Tuesday after departing from the Kottaipattinam fishing harbor in Pudukottai District.
Stalin highlighted that such incidents not only disrupt the livelihoods of fishermen but also create fear and uncertainty among the entire fishing community.
In April, 19 fishermen from Tamil Nadu, including nine from Mayiladuthurai, four from Pudukottai, and six from Karaikal in Puducherry, were repatriated to Chennai via an Air India flight from Colombo, Sri Lanka. They had been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on March 6 for crossing the maritime border.
The families of these fishermen had appealed to both the central and state governments to take necessary steps for their release.
