Thousands of fishermen along with their family members from 63 fishing hamlets in the Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu commenced an indefinite fast today, reports say.

They are demanding the authorities to initiate immediate action for getting the release of 23 fishermen arrested by Sri Lankan navy.

The fishermen were arrested in separate incidents by the navy on charges of violating International Maritime Boundary Line earlier this month when they were fishing off Kodiakkarai.

About 3,000 persons were participating in the fast near the sea shore, Indian media reported citing Tamil Nadu police.