Chennai:
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene and secure release of 23 Indian fishermen arrested by Sri Lanka on June 20, saying frequent incidents of arrest and detention of fishermen crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) is a "vexatious issue" and "worrisome"
"I am distressed to note that the Sri Lankan Navy has again taken into custody 23 fishermen along with five boats because they strayed accidentally into Sri Lankan waters. I seek your kind intervention in this issue and request you to ensure that the Sri Lankan Government releases the fishermen immediately," she said in a letter to Singh.
Here is the full text of Jayalalithaa's letter to the Prime Minister:"It has been brought to my notice that 23 fishermen of Tamil Nadu who accidentally strayed into Sri Lankan waters while fishing were taken into custody by the Sri Lankan Navy and taken to Thalaimannar Police Station yesterday (20.6.2011) afternoon.
After my Government took charge in May, 2011, 4 fishermen whose boat had capsized were arrested and remanded to custody by Kayts Court in Sri Lanka. I had written to you about this on 7th June, 2011. In your letter dated 15th June, 2011, you had informed me that the matter had been taken up with the Sri Lankan Government. These fishermen were released on 17th June, 2011, and I thank you for your kind intervention in this regard.
I wish to reiterate that the frequent incidents of arrest and detention of Tamil Nadu fishermen crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line which is very close to the shore off Rameswaram in the Palk Bay area, is worrisome. This also creates a lot of tension and unrest among the fishermen in Tamil Nadu. I had discussed this vexatious issue when I called on you at New Delhi on 14.6.2011. I also discussed this issue with Shri Shivshankar Menon, National Security Advisor, on two occasions, once when he called on me before leaving for Colombo on 9th June, 2011, and again during our discussions on 14.6.2011.
I am distressed to note that the Sri Lankan Navy has again taken into custody 23 fishermen along with 5 boats because they strayed accidentally into Sri Lankan waters. I seek your kind intervention in this issue and request you to ensure that the Sri Lankan Government releases the 23 fishermen taken into custody immediately."