Efforts on to get Indian fishermen released: Antony

Government is making efforts to secure the release of all Indian fishermen arrested by Sri Lankan Navy, Defence Minister A K Antony today said.

"We are trying to get the release of all the fishermen", he told reporters here as political leaders and the fishermen community in Tamil Nadu expressed concern over arrests of Indian fishermen by Lankan Navy.

Asked if he would take up the issue with the Lankan Navy, Antony said "attempts are going on through the Ministry of External affiars to find a solution".

The Lankan Navy arrested a total of 40 fishermen in the last two days while they were fishing in the Palk Strait.

The arrests have come as a shock to the fishermen's association members in Tamil Nadu especially after assurance from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to their representatives on December 28 that steps would be taken to release the 200-odd fishermen lodged in Sri Lankan prisons.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, in a letter to Singh, asked him to take a strong line and prevail upon the Sri Lankan government to end "unprovoked" attacks and arrests of Indian fishermen.

Such "unabated" attacks "will not make for a congenial atmosphere" for proposed talks next month between representatives of fishing community of the two sides being facilitated by her government, she said.