(UDHAYAM, PUDUCHERRY) – The Chief Minister of Puducherry V Narayanasamy has called upon the Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka seeking his intervention to secure the immediate release of six fishermen from Karaikal allegedly arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on March 30 and also their boats, The Hindu reported.
Speaking to reporters in his chamber in the Assembly, he said the families of the fishermen, Gajendiran, Tamilmani, Arul, Jayaseelan, Backiaraj and Ponnusamy, had presented a petition seeking his intervention to secure their release.
Narayanasamy said all along, Karaikal fishermen had been facing hardships at the hands of the Sri Lankan Navy and also the Coast Guard.
These fishermen were being constantly arrested and their fishing vessels confiscated, which was highly condemnable.
The Chief Minister said he spoke to the Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka seeking his immediate intervention in the matter. Mr. Narayanasamy said he would also contact Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in this connection.
The six fishermen were taken into custody on the charge that they were in possession of narcotic substances. But, it was absolutely impossible for them to possess narcotic substances, he contended.