Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay has written to India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, seeking assistance in securing the release of 25 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and their three fishing boats detained by the Maldives Coast Guard.
The three Indian fishing boats were seized during a special operation conducted by the Maldives Coast Guard in coordination with the Air Corps on Monday night after they allegedly violated regulations within the Maldives’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
According to Indian media reports, Vijay urged Jaishankar to lead diplomatic efforts and engage with the Maldivian government to resolve the matter.
“I request your intervention to facilitate diplomatic engagement with the Government of Maldives to secure the early release of these 25 fishermen from Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu and their three fishing boats, and ensure their safe return home,” Vijay wrote in the letter.
The chief minister also said Jaishankar’s intervention would provide significant relief to the detained fishermen’s families and the wider fishing community. He added that repeated incidents of this nature had created considerable anxiety and concern among fishing communities along Tamil Nadu’s coastline.
Vijay noted that fishermen in Ramanathapuram and other coastal districts in the region depend heavily on the Palk Bay for their livelihoods. The detention of fishermen and their boats, he said, had caused substantial emotional and financial hardship for their families.
Earlier this month, Vijay also wrote to Jaishankar regarding a separate incident, seeking urgent action to secure the release of 20 Tamil Nadu fishermen and 270 fishing boats detained by Sri Lankan authorities.
