Tamil Nadu CM Vijay appeals to Centre over 25 detained fishermen in Maldives

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has written to the Centre requesting intervention in the case of 25 fishermen from Thoothukudi district, who remain in custody of the Maldives Coast Guard following their detention in the early hours of October 13. The arrested fishermen were aboard three mechanised fishing vessels when they were apprehended, marking the latest in a series of similar incidents involving Indian fishermen operating in the waters between India and the Maldives.

The detention has renewed concerns about the safety and legal status of Indian fishing communities who operate in disputed maritime zones. Thoothukudi, located in southern Tamil Nadu, has a substantial fishing population whose livelihoods depend on deep-sea fishing operations in the Indian Ocean.

The Chief Minister's appeal to the Union government emphasises the need for diplomatic intervention to facilitate the release of the detainees and their vessels. Such incidents have historically required negotiations between Indian authorities and the Maldivian government to resolve, with outcomes often involving fines or temporary vessel confiscation before fishermen are released.

The case underscores ongoing tensions between Indian fishermen and Maldivian maritime authorities over fishing rights and territorial boundaries in the region. The Indian government has previously sought to balance fishing communities' economic interests with diplomatic relations with neighbouring countries.