Tamil Maanila Congress president G.K. Vasan on Saturday appealed for the strengthening of patrols by the Indian Coast Guard, to safeguard fishermen from Tamil Nadu.
In a statement, he said the recent detention of 12 fishermen from Thoothukudi district by the authorities of the Maldives, on the accusation that they were fishing in Maldivian waters, has come as a shock.
Appealing to the State and Union governments to take measures to secure the release of these fishermen, he pointed out that this arrest had come in the backdrop of Tamil Nadu fishermen facing frequent arrests by Sri Lankan authorities and attacks on fishermen, by unidentified men at sea.