MP Manickam Tagore Urges India to Free 11 Detained Fishermen

Member of Parliament Manickam Tagore called upon External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to secure the immediate release of 11 Indian fishermen detained by the Sri Lankan Navy on August 6. The fishermen, who originate from Kerala and the Tamil Nadu regions of Pamban, Thangachimadam, and Rameswaram, were apprehended near the Neduntheevu islet. Their vessel reportedly drifted into Sri Lankan waters after suffering a technical failure.

Tagore requested that the Ministry of External Affairs coordinate with the High Commission of India in Colombo to facilitate the repatriation of the crew, including 35-year-old Rohan, and the recovery of their boat. To prevent future incidents, Tagore proposed the creation of a bilateral protocol between India and Sri Lanka. This agreement would specifically address cases where vessels cross maritime boundaries due to natural drift or mechanical failure, ensuring such events are not treated as deliberate intrusions.