Tamil Nadu fishermen to begin indefinite fast from today

Rameswaram: Fishermen in Tamil Nadu would go on an indefinite fast from Tuesday, demanding the release of fishermen arrested by Sri Lankan Navy and lodged in prisons of the island nation.

NJ Bose, the Fishermen's Association President and its Secretary S Emerit, said a decision to this effect was taken on Monday at a meeting here wherein it also decided to demand the release of all the seized boats. 

The leaders also also urged the Centre and the state government to take effective steps to secure the release of the fishermen. They said fishermen from six districts, including Pudukottai, Nagapattinam, Karaikal and Ramanathapuram did not put out to sea on Monday in support of the demand.

On January 23, the fishermen had decided not to attend St Antony's church festival at Katchatheevu islet in protest against the non-release of 67 boats and against the Sri Lanka government reportedly not allowing them to fish in Katchatheevu islet as per an Indo-Sri Lanka agreement.