Puducherry CM urges External Affairs Minister to secure release of Tamil fishermen detained by Sri Lankan authorities

Chief Minister N. Rangasamy has written to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) seeking diplomatic intervention in securing the release of two groups of 25 Tamil fishermen who have been taken into custody by Sri Lankan authorities.

In a letter to Union Minister for External Affairs S. Jaishankar, Mr. Rangasamy said one group of 14 fishermen, including eight from Puducherry and the rest from Tamil Nadu, were taken into custody and their vessel confiscated by Sri Lankan Navy on February 15.

Another group of fishermen, including two from Karaikal and the rest from Tamil Nadu, had been detained and their boat impounded by the Sri Lankan Navy while engaged in fishing aboard a mechanised boat on February 12.

The letter, which also shared the particulars of the seized vessels and the names of the fishermen, urged for immediate Central intervention in securing their early release and safe return.