Chennai: Thirteen Indian fishermen, hailing from Mayiladuthurai and Pudukottai districts, were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on the charge of crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).
This comes after the island Navy arrested 55 fishermen of Rameswaram and Mandapam on Sunday and seized 19 mechanised trawlers.
With this, the number of fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy in the past three days has gone up to 68.
Following this, Chief Minister M K Stalin wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, seeking his urgent intervention to secure the release of the fishermen and boats.
In the letter personally handed over to Jaishankar by DMK MPs in New Delhi, Stalin recalled his previous letter to the Minister on Sunday, requesting that the Government of India prevail upon the Sri Lankan government through diplomatic channels to put an end to the intimidatory tactics of its Navy.
He added: ‘The alarming frequency at which these incidents of apprehension and attacks are happening warrants urgent attention.’
Union Minister of State L Murugan has also urged Jaishankar to take immediate steps to ensure the release of fishermen. Meanwhile, sources said the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka has initiated measures to release the fishermen.
Fishermen in Mandapam in Tamilnadu have gone on protest today demanding release of their counterparts from Sri Lankan jail.