Chennai, July 4 (Agency) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin on Monday urged External Affairs Minister Dr.S.Jaishankar to take appropriate steps through diplomatic channels and secure the release of 12 fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy last night and their boat. In a Demi-Official letter to Jaishankar, copies of which were released to the media here, he drew his immediate and personal attention to the instance of arrest of 12 innocent Indian fishermen (7 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and 5 fishermen from Puducherry) by the Sri Lankan Navy along with a fishing boat bearing registration number IND-PY-PK-MM-895.
The fishermen of Tamil Nadu have recently resumed fishing after the annual ban period of 61 days that ended on June 15, he pointed out. This arrest intimidates the fisherfolk of Tamil Nadu and is also likely to create a sense of insecurity and fear in the coastal areas of the State, Stalin said and requested the External Affairs Minister to take up this matter through appropriate diplomatic channels to secure the immediate release of 12 fishermen and their fishing boat.