Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has written to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, seeking immediate intervention to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of Indian fishermen following a spate of recent attacks and ongoing issues related to confiscated boats held by Sri Lankan authorities.
In his letter, Stalin highlighted the growing concerns of Tamil Nadu's fishing communities, particularly in Nagapattinam district, where 23 fishermen were reportedly assaulted at sea on May 2 by unidentified Sri Lankan nationals.
According to CM Stalin's letter, the attackers seized GPS devices, mobile phones, VHF equipment, engine components, ice boxes, fishing nets weighing around 470 kg, inverter batteries, cooking stoves, and even personal belongings, including gold and silver jewellery.
Also read: 17 Tamil Nadu fishermen injured in attack by Sri Lankan pirates
"On May 2, 23 fishermen from the coastal villages of Nagapattinam District and their five county 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. I request you to take this up urgently with the authorities concerned both in India and Sri Lanka, so that such instances threatening lives and livelihoods do not occur again and the attackers are deterred from indulging in such acts," Stalin said.
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister also expressed deep concern over a recent decision by Sri Lanka's Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR), which has recommended the scuttling of 34 Indian fishing boats seized during 2022 and 2023.
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