Fishermen stay on shore in protest

Pudukkottai, Nov 19 (UNI) The fishermen of Jagadhapatnam and Kottipatnam hamlets in Pudukkottai of Tamil Nadu did not put out to sea today, protesting against the arrest of 17 Indian fishermen by the Lankan Navy for allegedly crossing the international waters.

Talking to newsmen after an urgent meeting of the Pudukkottai District Mechanisd boat Fishermen Association, at Jagadhapatnam near here, its President Ramakrishnan said they decided not to put out to sea until the 17 fishermen were released.

He said they had urged the Centre and Tamil Nadu governments to put an end torecurring attack against Indian fishermen by the Lankan naval personnel.

The state government should pay Rs 100 per day to each fisherman family who embarked on agitation from today.

A large number of fishermen who engaged ten chartered buses later left for Chennai to meet Chief Minister M karunanidhi tomorrow and present a memorandum to him pleading to en sure immediate release of the fishermen, according to official sources.

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