Stalin Urges Centre to Take Steps to Protect Fishermen

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to take steps to stop the sinking of apprehended Indian fishing boats by Sri Lanka.

- Press Trust of India

CHENNAI:

The chief minister demanded necessary steps to bring back 229 fishing boats seized by Sri Lanka and ensure the security of Indian fishermen and prevent the recurrence of attacks against them.

Writing to Jaishankar, Stalin said there had been an increase, of late, in the number of attacks on Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan nationals.

On May 2, as many as 23 fishermen from the coastal villages of Nagapattinam district and their five country boats were attacked at sea by unidentified Sri Lankan nationals in separate incidents. Their GPS devices, mobile phones, VHF equipment, ice boxes, engine components, inverter batteries, stove, approximately 470 kg of fishing nets, and personal belongings such as gold and silver jewellery were snatched away.