NFF seeks PM's intervention for release of Indian fishermen

The National Fish Workers Forum today asked the Centre to take immediate steps for release of around 650 Indian fishermen arrested by maritime security agencies of different countries.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, NFF Chairman M Ilango said as per information available, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar had arrested around 650 Indian fishermen till October this year and lodged them in their prisons on the ground that the fishermen were fishing in their territorial waters.
Of the 650 fishermen arrested as many as 350 had been held by Sri Lanka alone, he claimed.
Ilango said their boats had also been confiscated by the countries and the Prime Minister should ensure that the boats were also released.

Ilango said it had also been reported that an Indian delegation was scheduled to visit Pakistan soon to inspect the boats seized by that country and to discuss modalities for their release.
He contended that the team scheduled to visit Pakistan should have the NFF chairperson as one of the members and it should also include NFF members from Gujarat.
The NFF is an organisation that has as its members fishermen from all coastal states of India, he said.
A copy of the letter was made available to the media today.