Tamil Maanila Congress president G.K.Vasan on Saturday urged the Central and State governments to take steps to secure the release of 19 fishermen belonging to Nagapattinam, who were captured by the Sri Lankan Navy.

In a statement in Chennai, he said that such incidents caused apprehension among fishermen, who also face loss of livelihood as their boats and nets are damaged by the Sri Lankan Navy.

The Centre must ensure that until the talks between fishermen of both the countries come to a conclusion, there is no intrusion by the Sri Lankan Navy, Vasan said.

The Tamil Nadu government should impress upon the Centre to ensure that the interests of the State’s fishermen are protected, he also stressed.

(The Hindu)