Fishermen in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry withdraw strike

Chennai: In Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, fishermen have withdrawn their strike on which they were on for the past four days demanding the immediate release of fellow fishermen lodged in Sri Lankan jail.

The fishermen are also urging the government to secure the release of fishing boats detained by Sri Lanka.

The fishermen from nine districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry including Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, Karaikal and Pudukottai will resume fishing from today.

More than 10 lakh fishermen families were affected by the four day strike by fishermen. The fishermen are urging the government to secure the release of twenty seven Indian fishermen still languishing in Lankan jail after they were arrested by Lankan Navy.

The fishermen also want the government to take steps to secure the release of 71 fishing boats detained by Sri Lanka.

The fishermen association said that they are not able to sustain the strike as their livelihood is badly affected. Moreover since fishing ban will be imposed next month they cannot continue their strike now.