Continuous apprehension of TN fishermen by SL Navy is deeply concerning: Stalin

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday expressed his deep concern over the alarming increase in apprehension of Tamil fishermen and their boats by the Sri Lankan Navy in the past few months.

Pointing out the recent verdict issued by the Sri Lankan court, sentencing two boatmen and a fisherman from Tamil Nadu to undergo prison for repeatedly violating the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) agreement, Stalin wrote on X, "Over the past two months, there has been a sharp rise in arrests, with a staggering 69 fishermen apprehended. What's more alarming is the unjust branding of three fishermen as habitual offenders, leading to their prolonged detention.

The CM said that the issue severely threatens the livelihoods of the fishermen and also puts their hard-earned savings (economic stability) at risk as their boats are nationalised by the Sri Lankan government.

Further, Stalin urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to make diplomatic efforts to ensure the repatriation of Tamil Nadu fishermen and the release of their boats.

"It's crucial to prioritise this matter and take decisive action to safeguard the interests of our fishermen, for they are not just Tamils but proud Indians," he added.

Earlier, a week ago, Stalin wrote to Modi urging him to take necessary diplomatic efforts to secure the release of Tamil Nadu fishermen and their fishing boats apprehended by the Sri Lankan authorities and renew the Joint Action Group to resolve the fishermen issue.

Meanwhile, as many as 28 Tamil Nadu fishermen who were arrested for crossing the marine border by the Sri Lankan government were returned to Chennai on February 13.

On February 4, in two different incidents, 42 fishermen were held and four trawlers belonging to them were impounded by the Lankan Navy.

The arrested fishermen were later remanded in judicial custody in the island nation and when the case came up for hearing on February 16, the court in Sri Lanka freed 20 fishermen, with a warning to not violate the IMBL agreement, but sentenced two boatmen and a fishermen to undergo prison terms for having repeated the offence.

Condemning the action, all fishermen associations in the coastal district of Ramanathapuram refrained from fishing along the Palk Bay indefinitely and hoisted black flags atop their dwellings as a mark of protest against the continuing arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy.

(With inputs from Bureau)