OPS writes to union govt for release of TN fishermen in Lankan custody

Chennai, Mar 13 (BPNS)

The deposed coordinator of AIADMK and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, O. Panneerselvam (OPS) has on Monday written a letter to Union external affairs minister to intervene in the release of 16 fishermen from Tamil Nadu who are in the custody of Sri Lankan navy.

The former Chief Minister wanted the Union Minister, S. Jaishankar to intervene for the immediate release of the fishermen who were taken in the custody of the Sri Lankan Navy along with their mechanized boats and other belongings.

It is to be noted that 12 fishermen from the Akkaraipettai base in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu had ventured into the sea in a mechanized trawler bearing no IND- TN-06MM 7818 and 4 fishermen had set off from Kottaipattanam in Pudukottai district in a mechanized trawler bearing no IND- TN- 08 MM 081.

OPS in the letter to Jaishankar said that the fishermen were within Indian waters and the Sri Lankan Navy had arrested them citing that they had crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).

The former Chief Minister in the letter to Jaishankar said, “The instances of apprehension of our fishermen continue unabated and are creating a sense of fear, worry and turmoil among the fishermen community in Tamil Nadu. Denying our fishermen the right to peaceful fishing in their traditional waters is causing considerable annoyance amongst the fisherfolk of Tamil Nadu.”

The senior leader said that the fishermen of Tamil Nadu venture out into the sea in constant fear that they would be attacked by the Sri Lankan Navy.