– New Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has urged External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar to take immediate diplomatic action to secure the release of 54 Indian fishermen and 264 fishing boats currently detained by Sri Lankan authorities, following the latest arrest of six fishermen by the Sri Lanka Navy.

In a letter addressed to the Union Minister on Tuesday, Vijay called on the Indian government to engage with Colombo through all available diplomatic channels to ensure the early release and safe repatriation of the detained fishermen and their vessels.

The six fishermen from Mandapam in the Ramanathapuram district were arrested on May 12 after allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) while fishing.