Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Tamil Nadu unit president K Annamalai on Wednesday sought the intervention of the External Affairs Ministry for the early repatriation of the 18 Tamil fishermen and their two boats detained by the Sri Lankan Navy on Tuesday evening.
Officials of the state fisheries department and BJP cadre organised a warm reception at Tamil Nadu's Chennai airport on Friday for the 21 fishermen repatriated by Sri Lanka.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday wrote to External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S Jaishankar, urging him to take steps for the release of 45 fishermen and 138 fishing boats from Sri Lanka.
As many as six Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu, who were fishing in international waters, were detained by the Sri Lankan Navy along with their trawler, near the Kankesanthurai area in Sri Lanka.
25 Indian fishermen, who were fishing in international waters, were detained by the Sri Lankan Navy along with their two trawlers, off Point Pedro town in Sri Lanka.
A total of 64 fishermen who belong to Rameshwaram and Mandapam were arrested in three separate arrests by the Sri Lankan navy allegedly for cross-border fishing in the month of October. Their boats and fishing nets were also taken by the Sri Lankan Navy.
As many as 22 fishermen from Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, who were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy who had strayed into international waters, have been released and they arrived in Pampan through boats.
In his letter, Stalin wrote, "I wish to draw your attention to the apprehension of 37 fishermen along with their 5 Fishing boats bearing registration numbers IND-TN-10-MM-860, IND-TN-10-MM-985, IND-TN-10-MM-915, IND-TN-10-MM-717 and IND-TN-10-MM-972 by Sri Lankan Navy on October 28"
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has written to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, requesting the central government to secure the release of Tamil fishermen and their fishing boats detained by Sri Lanka.
The Fishermen Association of Rameshwaram began an indefinite strike on Sunday, demanding the release of 27 fishermen and five boats allegedly captured by the Sri Lankan navy.