Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has reached out to Union Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar, urging intervention for the release of 12 fishermen from Tamil Nadu currently in custody of the Maldives government. Stalin’s letter emphasized the fishermen’s dependency on their catch for livelihood and highlighted the excessive penalty imposed by the Maldives, asserting that it could lead to permanent impoverishment.
In the correspondence, a copy of which was shared with the media, Chief Minister Stalin urged Minister Jaishankar to seek a waiver of the hefty ₹2.25 crore (MVR 42,00,000) penalty and secure the release of the fishermen along with their fishing vessel. Stalin expressed confidence that timely intervention by the Union Minister could bring relief to the affected fishermen and their families, currently facing a challenging situation.
The 12 fishermen were apprehended by the Maldives National Defense Force on October 22 on charges of trespassing and fishing in the island nation’s maritime zones. Subsequently, on November 1, the Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources, and Agriculture of the Republic of Maldives imposed the substantial fine on the fishing vessel’s operator, with a 30-day deadline for settlement, failing which the vessel would face detention.