Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin wrote to the Minister of external affairs, S. Jaishankar, to intervene in the arrest of 24 Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy.
In his letter, Minister Stalin urged Mr Jaishankar to request that the Sri Lankan navy refrain from arresting the fishermen.
The fishermen in question were engaged in poaching off the shores near the Kovilan Lighthouse, Kareinagar, Jaffna on the evening of the 28th of November.
At the time, the Sri Lankan Navy and Coast Guard were patrolling for Indian trawlers entering Sri Lankan waters as part of a joint operation. The navy seized five trawlers and took 25 fishermen into custody.
The fishermen were escorted to the Kankesanthurai Harbour, where they were handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector, where they await legal processing.
According to the Sri Lankan navy, over the past year, they have captured 252 Indian fishermen and seized 35 trawlers.
In his correspondence, Stalin also appealed for the early release of the Indian fishermen and trawlers currently being held by the Sri Lankan authorities.
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