The country boat fishermen association in Pamban has announced an indefinite strike from today demanding that the Centre immediately secure the release of all 35 fishermen jailed in Sri Lanka on poaching charges.

Speaking to Indian media, association president S.P. Rayappan, in New Delhi with a delegation to meet External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and other leaders, said that even after the Centre strongly protested with its Sri Lankan counterpart over the arrest and sought the release of the fishermen, the fresh incident had created disappointment and unrest among the fisherfolk.

He added that at a time, when the Union government supported Sri Lanka during its economic crisis and the Tamil Nadu government was providing all facilities to the people who left the country, such ill-treatment to the fishermen under ‘false’ claims was unfair and unfortunate.

35 Indian fishermen were recently arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for illegally entering the Sea of Sri Lanka.