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Citing the arrest of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy, Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK Coordinator O Panneerselvam urged the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to take steps for the release of fishermen.
In a letter to Jaishankar, Panneerselvam said, "I am writing this letter with a deep sense of worry about the safety and wellbeing of the fishermen of Tamil Nadu who are now being apprehended frequently by the Sri Lankan Navy while they pursue their traditional occupation of fishing." He drew attention to the arrest of Indian fishermen and the seizure of their mechanised fishing boats that took place on August 10 and a similar incident on August 22 by the Sri Lankan Navy. Former Tamil Nadu CM mentioned the incident of August 10 and said, "one mechanized fishing boat of Tamil Nadu with 9 fishermen on board, which ventured into the sea from Nagapattinam fishing base were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy. Within twelve days of this incident, another incident took place on August 22 wherein the Sri Lankan Navy detained 10 fishermen of Akkaraipettai, Nagapattinam District and seized their fishing boat for allegedly crossing International Maritime Boundary Line and they have been remanded at the Trincomalee Prison." He also said that the incidents of apprehension of innocent Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy have become a regular occurrence in the past few months. "From the continuous incidents of apprehension, it is very obvious that the intention of the Sri Lankan Navy is to infuse panic in the minds of the fishermen and thwart them from conducting fishing in their traditional waters. It has created a feeling of uncertainty in the minds of fishermen who feel that there is no guarantee for their life and property in the sea, in the prevailing situation," the letter reads. Panneerselvam said that the families of the arrested fishermen and various Fishermen Associations have also requested for an early release of these apprehended fishermen since they were only pursuing their life where they have been fishing all along. He requested Jaishankar to take immediate steps to initiate a diplomatic dialogue with the Sri Lankan government to immediately stop the recurrence of such incidents of apprehension of Tamil Nadu fishermen and urge you to ensure the immediate release of all the fishermen and their boats. (ANI)
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