People Welfare Front coordinator and MDMK chief Vaiko today urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to take steps for the release of 23 Tamil Nadu fishermen "arrested" in the United Arab Emirates two years ago.
"A total of 23 fishermen belonging to Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu went to the coastal waters of UAE (in 2014) for fishing, accompanied by two Arabs. One Arab went missing and all the Tamil fishermen were arrested," he said in separate letters to Modi and Swaraj.
Stating that investigation into their whereabouts had been going on for the past two years, Vaiko said UAE officials found the fishermen "innocent" and "arrayed" them as eyewitnesses.
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"Their passports were confiscated, work permits were cancelled and they were not allowed to travel locally," he said.
Though the fishermen were not jailed, they were confined to rooms, almost like a "house arrest" and were struggling to meet their daily needs, he said.
He urged Modi and Swaraj to extend all possible help to save the fishermen.
"The families are eagerly anticipating help from the Indian Government and strong action from the Prime Minister's Office...," he said.
