Complaining that the Sri Lankan Navy has escalated the frequency and magnitude of incidents of “abduction” of Indian fishermen, Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Sunday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention in the release of 77 fishermen, who are lodged in various jails in the island nation.

“The Sri Lankan Navy has escalated the frequency and magnitude of incidents of abduction of our fishermen and seizure of boats and fishing equipment undeterred in recent days,” she said. In the latest incident, four fishermen were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy in the early hours of July 15 and taken to Thalaimannar in northern Sri Lanka.

The Chief Minister also told the Prime Minister that the Sri Lankan Government continues to infringe upon the historically enjoyed rights of our fishermen to fish in the traditional waters of the Palk Bay.

Noting that the Sri Lankan strategy of not releasing the boats of our fishermen is causing great frustration among the fishermen of Tamil Nadu, she said these fishermen are in a state of despondency and asked Mr Modi to take up this matter with the highest authorities of the Sri Lankan Government and ensure the immediate release of the precariously berthed boats which continue to suffer great damage.

(Deccan Chronicle)