Seeman demands immediate release of fishermen languishing in Bahrain prison

CHENNAI: Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) chief Seeman on Monday demanded the state government to take necessary steps to rescue the Tamil Nadu fishermen who are languishing in the Bahrain prison.

On September 11, nearly 28 fishermen from Idinthakarai fishing village in Tirunelveli district, who were engaged in fishing in Iran, were apprehended by the Bahrain Coast Guard for inadvertently crossing the border.

Subsequently, despite several please from the families of the arrested men, the Bahrain Court sentenced the fishermen to six months in prison.

In a statement on Monday, NTK chief Seeman said that the families of these fishermen who were dependent on their income have been severely impacted by this arrest.

"A six month prison sentence is unfair for a natural occurence that forced the fishermen to cross the borders. I request the centre to take cognizance of the matter and hold talks with the Bahrain government to release the prisoners," he said.

Seeman further criticised Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and said that it is disappointing to see that the CM merely wrote a letter to the Foreign Affairs minister and assumed that his duty is over.

"If everything can be solved with a letter then what is the point of having a Non-resident Tamils Welfare Ministry," he asked.

He demanded that the state government should reach out to the centre and take the necessary steps to ensure the immediate release of the 28 fishermen.

Seeman also added that the government should look into providing all the necessary legal aid to the fishermen and ensure that they make their way safely to their families.