Take steps for fishermen release before Pongal: Chief Minister

In a fresh letter to the PM on Tuesday, she said that the continuing arrests of fishermen is spoiling the festive mood in the coastal hamlets in Tamil Nadu. The CM has termed the arrest of fishermen by Sri Lankan navy as unfortunate at a time when the state was getting ready for the traditional festival of Pongal. 

She said that one boat with 8 fishermen from Akkaraipettai, Nagapattinam district were taken away by the Lankan Navy on January 4 and taken to Mullaitheevu. On Tuesday also the island nation personnel resorted to similar action whisking away two boats with 8 fishermen from Ramanathapuram district. All the 8 were taken to Thalaimannar. On the same day, another batch of 4 fishermen from Pudukkottai district along with their boat were arrested and taken to Kankesanthurai. With this, the total number of fishermen from TN arrested by Sri Lankan has reached 104. It is regrettable that many of these fishermen continued to be in custody for several weeks now and were unable to be with their families during festival time. 

She also pointed out that Sri Lankan has been keeping 66 fishing vessels belonging to Tamil Nadu fishermen in its custody for 4 months and sought their immediate release.