Chennai, Feb 23 (NationPress) On Monday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin called on External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to initiate prompt diplomatic actions to free Tamil Nadu fishermen held by the Sri Lankan Navy, amid ongoing tensions in the Palk Strait.

In a letter addressed to EAM Jaishankar, CM Stalin highlighted the recent detention of 12 fishermen from Tamil Nadu, expressing that such repeated arrests have inflicted significant distress on coastal communities reliant on fishing as their primary source of income.

The Chief Minister pointed out that this latest incident has pushed the total count of Tamil Nadu fishermen currently detained in Sri Lankan custody to 116.

Moreover, he noted that 259 fishing boats belonging to Tamil Nadu fishermen remain confiscated by Sri Lankan authorities, labeling the situation as critical and unsustainable for fishing communities that depend on daily earnings from marine activities.

According to the Chief Minister, the most recent incident took place late on February 22, when a mechanized fishing vessel departing from the Pamban Fish Landing Centre in Ramanathapuram district was intercepted by the Sri Lankan Navy.

The 12 fishermen aboard were detained, and their vessel was seized by Sri Lankan officials.

Stalin remarked that these incidents have persisted despite multiple appeals from the state government, emphasizing the necessity for immediate and ongoing diplomatic dialogue between India and Sri Lanka to avert further arrests and to guarantee the safety of Indian fishermen.

As per official reports, the fishermen were caught while fishing in the Gulf of Mannar, specifically in the waters between Dhanushkodi and Thalaimannar.

The confiscated vessel reportedly belongs to a fisherman named David, who resides in Pamban, Ramanathapuram district.

In his correspondence, Stalin characterized the arrests as part of a “recurring pattern” and voiced profound concern regarding the escalating number of fishermen detained by Sri Lankan authorities.

He noted that these continual detentions have instilled fear, uncertainty, and financial strain among coastal families, many of whom rely entirely on fishing for their sustenance.

Furthermore, he pointed out that the ongoing confiscation of fishing boats has worsened the economic challenges faced by the affected fishermen and their families.

This latest event has also sparked unrest among fishermen in Pamban, where over 100 fishing boats had set out to sea from the Pamban South Wadi Fishing Port at the time of the arrests.

Fishermen associations have urged both the state and central governments to amplify diplomatic efforts with Sri Lanka to secure the release of the detained fishermen and avert further incidents.

The matter of cross-border fishing disputes in the Palk Strait continues to be a persistent source of friction between India and Sri Lanka, frequently impacting bilateral relations and disrupting the livelihoods of thousands of fishermen from Tamil Nadu.