CM Stalin urges Centre to act after attack on Tamil Nadu fishers
Trichy: Following the alleged assault and robbery of 23
Tamil Nadu fishermen
by
Sri Lankan assailants
on May 2, chief minister M K Stalin has written to Union external affairs minister S Jaishankar, urging strong diplomatic intervention to prevent such incidents and to secure the release of impounded Indian fishing boats.
The fishermen, hailing from villages including Seruthur, Akkaraipettai, Arukatuthurai, and Vellapallam in Nagapattinam district, were attacked while fishing southeast of Kodiyakarai in five fibreglass reinforced plastic (FRP) motorised boats. Armed gangs reportedly from Sri Lanka assaulted the fishers and looted their nets, catch, boat engines, and other equipment.
In his letter, Stalin requested the Centre to engage with Sri Lankan authorities to stop such cross-border attacks and ensure the
safety of Indian fishermen
. He also objected to Sri Lanka's reported plan to dismantle and submerge 34 seized mechanised boats—confiscated in 2022 and 2023—as artificial reef ecosystems, calling it a threat to the livelihood of Tamil Nadu fishers.
The chief minister noted that as of May 5, Sri Lanka holds around 229 mechanised boats belonging to Tamil Nadu fishers. Although 12 have been cleared for release by Sri Lankan courts, they have yet to be repatriated. Stalin reiterated his earlier proposal to send 14 salvage boats and 101 fishermen to recover the vessels.
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Experience three trade fairs with just one ticket
Undo
automatica 2025
Undo
Laser World of Photonics
Undo
World of Quantum
Undo
Visit automatica: June 24-27, Munich
Undo
He urged the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to take up the matter urgently and ensure the return of all impounded boats.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan also expressed concern over the attacks and called for a constructive dialogue between the two countries. He emphasised the need to uphold the dignity, safety, and rights of Indian fishers while respecting maritime boundaries.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
9 minutes ago
- Mint
Middle class in focus, says govt; highlights gains from pensions, tax relief, smart city push
New Delhi: The Centre's policies aim to better equip middle-income families to face the future with confidence, an official statement said, highlighting the policy attention this segment will receive over the next four years. The statement, marking the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government's completion of the first year of its third term in office, also noted that 2.3 million central government employees will benefit from the new unified pension scheme (UPS) launched in April this year, which is a hybrid of contributory and assured models. The statement titled, 'the middle class story', discussed various measures implemented so far by the NDA government in taxation, pension, inflation reduction and connectivity. It said this segment of the population plays a vital role in India's growth story. UPS, which assures an employee a pension of 50% of the average basic pay drawn in the last one year before retirement, is open to those with at least 25 years of experience. For those with shorter service tenure, pension will be computed proportionately, with a minimum qualifying period of 10 years. They will get a minimum assured pension of ₹ 10,000 a month on retirement. If an employee passes away, then his family will receive 60% of the assured pension, the statement clarified. It is expected to benefit around 2.3 million central government employees, the statement said, adding that several state governments have also adopted this model, extending its coverage to over nine million individuals currently under the National Pension System. The statement also said the income tax relief announced in the Union budget for FY26 will benefit crores of salaried citizens. The budget had announced that individuals earning up to ₹ 12 lakh annually will now pay no income tax, except on special incomes like capital gains. With the standard deduction of ₹ 75,000, even those earning ₹ 12.75 lakh will pay no tax, the statement said. 'It shows a deep understanding of middle-class needs and comes despite the government giving up nearly ₹ 1 lakh crore in revenue,' the statement said. On the smart cities mission, the government said the plan, rolled out in 2015, saw 93% of the 7,545 approved projects completed by 2025, with a total investment of over ₹ 1.51 trillion.
Time of India
10 minutes ago
- Time of India
RCB's parent company Diageo continues to maintain silence on Bengaluru stampede
New Delhi: It's been close to 48 hours since 11 lives were lost and 75 were injured due to the on June 4, hours after they ended their title wait. The celebrations in and around the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru turned out to be a big fat mess and many innocent lives were lost due the chaos. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The franchise has copped plenty of criticism but it has come as a surprise that its parent company - Diageo - a British multinational alcoholic company, continues to maintain silence over the matter. There have been a couple of statements by the RCB but not a single word from Diageo yet. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. reached out to the company last night with a very specific set of questions - reaction to the Bengaluru stampede, reason for the company's silence, whether they were satisfied with the arrangements made by the RCB and whether it mars the end of 18-year-long wait for a title - but there has been no response yet. The story will be updated the moment they share a response. Gautam Gambhir sends stern message after Bengaluru tragedy The Bengaluru Police have already swung into action and have arrested RCB's marketing head earlier on Friday morning. Apart from Sosale, three employees of DNA Entertainment Networks were also arrested. The police, in the FIR, have claimed that they denied RCB the permission to conduct the parade at the Chinnaswamy. Further investigation and rounds of questioning will reveal what actually transpired on June 4. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) continues to maintain that the event was organised by the RCB and they had no role to play in it. IPL Governing Council Chairman Arun Dhamal has asserted that he alerted the RCB officials when things went out of control outside the cricket ground. Meanwhile, the event inside continued even when chaos prevailed. During a press conference on June 5, India head coach Gautam Gambhir minced no words on the tragedy in Bengaluru. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Scene outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru where a stampede occurred on June 4. 'I was never a believer that we need to have roadshows. Never. When I was playing, I had the same statement even after winning the 2007 (T20 World Cup)… The lives of people are far more important and I will continue to say that,' Gambhir said ahead of the team's departure for England. 'What has happened is very tragic. My heart goes out to the families who have lost their loved ones,' he said. 'I hope in the future nothing like this happens because I think we all are responsible citizens. We should take care of all this,' Gambhir added. It now remains to be seen what transpires next because what happened in Bengaluru has not pleased the top brass of the Indian cricket board too.
Hans India
10 minutes ago
- Hans India
3.69 crore houses for rural poor sanctioned under PMAY scheme: Minister
Panaji: Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications Pemmasani Chandrasekhar on Friday said a total of 3.69 crore houses have been sanctioned and 2.76 crore homes have been completed so far under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Gramin "giving a concrete form to the dreams of the rural poor". "With an ambitious goal of 4.95 crore houses by March 2029, we have already made remarkable strides. Each number represents a family sleeping peacefully, children studying in safety, and elders ageing with dignity," the minister remarked. Addressing the regional rural workshop under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin here, the Minister said: "When our villages prosper, Bharat prospers. Under PM Narendra Modi's transformative vision, the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana embodies the true spirit of Antyodaya—uplifting the last person in the queue. A Viksit Bharat (developed India) is not possible without empowered rural communities." The Minister said the government is converging PMAY-G with flagship schemes like Ujjwala, Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat to create holistic habitats, not just homes. This is ensuring that every rural family has access to clean water, sanitation, and clean cooking fuel. The government's vision extends far beyond bricks and mortar. Through mason training programmes, the government is creating an army of skilled artisans in rural India. This is economic empowerment in its purest form - creating jobs, building expertise, and ensuring that rural youth become the authors of their own prosperity, he said. "We are exploring Green Housing, where environmental consciousness blends with affordable construction, giving rise to homes that care not just for families, but for the planet itself. Embracing Artificial Intelligence in beneficiary selection, where technology becomes the great equaliser—ensuring that it is merit, not influence, that determines who receives support," the minister observed. He further stated that the government was aligning its policy with the Sustainable Development Goals, connecting local aspirations to global responsibilities, so that every village contributes to the progress of humanity. It was also reimagining microfinance and turning it into a powerful bridge to link rural aspirations with real opportunities, "empowering people to turn dreams into achievements". 'As we step into the Amrit Kaal, it is no longer just about numbers—it's about quality, sustainability, and long-term impact. By embracing innovation, data, and inclusive financing, we can shape rural development. Every family that moves from a kutcha to a pucca house with effective convergence is taking a step toward national transformation,' he added. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, state Rural Development, Culture, and Sports Minister Govind Gaude, along with senior officials from the Central and state governments, were present on the occasion
