Fishermen do not venture into sea to protest detention

Nagapattinam (TN), Feb 17 (PTI) Thousands of fishermen oftwo coastal districts did not venture into the sea for thesecond consecutive day today in protest against detention of136 fishermen in Sri Lanka in the last two days.

Sri Lankan Police had yesterday detained 24 Indianfishermen, taking the total number of Tamil Nadu fishermen intheir custody in the past two days to 136.

Alleging that the Tamil Nadu fishermen have been abducted,fishermen''s representatives of Nagapattinam and Karaikaldistricts said they would continue their stir till all 136fishermen were released.

The fishermen hail from Akkaraipettai, Keechankuppam andKilinjalmedu hamlets.

Fishermen''s representatives from Akkaraipettai andKeechankuppam hamlets proceeded to Chennai to meet Tamil NaduChief Minister M Karunanidhi in a bid to find a solution tothe issue, while others from Kilinjalmedu in Karaikal districthave gone to Puducherry to meet Chief Minister V Vaithilingam.

Meanwhile, a fishermen who escaped being caught, but wasinjured, managed to arrive at nearby Kottapattinam and hasbeen hospitalised.

In Nagapattinam, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi cadresstaged a demonstration in front of the head post office todaycondemning the "abduction" of the fishermen and burnt aneffigy of Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The District Congress committee also staged demonstrationdemanding the immediate release of the fishermen.