The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms Jayalalithaa, today urged the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, to intervene and secure the release of 23 Indian fishermen arrested by Sri Lanka on June 20, saying frequent incidents of arrest and detention of fishermen crossing International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) is a ‘vexatious issue' and worrisome'.
Referring to the latest incident where the Sri Lankan Navy had arrested 23 Tamil Nadu fishermen ‘who accidentally strayed into Sri Lankan waters,' she said she was ‘distressed' and sought the Prime Minister's intervention for their immediate release.
“I am distressed to note that the Sri Lankan Navy has again taken into custody 23 fishermen along with five boats because they strayed accidentally into Sri Lankan waters. I seek your kind intervention in this issue and request you to ensure that the Sri Lankan Government releases the fishermen immediately,” she said in a letter to Dr Singh.