Tamil Nadu chief-minister Edapadi K. Palaniswami has penned a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to intervene and secure the release of eight Tamil fishermen arrested yesterday by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Lankan Navy personnel arrested 8 Tamil fishermen yesterday morning and the arrest has sent panic among fishermen along the coast in view of the recently promulgated order by Lanka which said fishermen found ‘trespassing’ into its waters would have to pay a penalty of Rs.60 lakhs. The chief-minister has referred to this promulgation in his letter to the Prime Minister.

“The new draconian law is clearly intended at causing more trouble to Tamil fishermen who are a disappointed lot,” the chief-minister said.

He also requested the Prime Minister to intervene in securing the release of Tamil fishermen who have been feeling ‘terrified’ by the Lankan laws which would severely dent their decades-long custom of fishing at Palk Strait.