In his second letter to Narendra Modi on the fishermen issue, Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Wednesday urged the Prime Minister to stop the “new trend” of the Sri Lankan Navy arresting fishermen on boats that developed snag.

Terming it a “matter of concern” for his government, he explained how four fishermen, who left Rameswaram on Monday, were arrested after their boat drifted to Delft Island, Sri Lanka, because of an engine snag.

Panneerselvam requested the Prime Minister to direct the Ministry concerned to secure the immediate release of 24 fishermen and 75 boats.

Five fishermen missing

Staff Reporter writes from Nagapattinam:

Five fishermen of the Meenava Nagar and Vanavan Mahadevi coastal villages near Tharangampadi, who ventured into the sea from Karaikal on October 3, are reported missing.

Sources said Thangarajan, Ramalingam, Jegan, Dharmabalan and Vishnu had put out to sea in a fibreglass boat. Some fishermen were reported to have spotted them southeast of Kodiyakkarai on Sunday.(The Hindu)