Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Wednesday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take up the issue of Indian fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy and secure their immediate release.
In a letter to Singh, text of which was released to the media here, Jayalalithaa referring to the recent arrests of Indian fishermen, in addition to five who are already in Lankan prison, said: “The arrest of 13 more Rameswaram fishermen with their three boats has further confirmed the unrelenting, harsh attitude of the Sri Lankan Navy towards our Tamil Nadu fishermen, who seek to eke out their livelihood by fishing in the traditional Palk Bay waters.”
She said already five fishermen from the state are languishing in Sri Lankan prisons due to a fabricated case since Nov 29, 2011.