Get Indian fishermen jailed in Qatar released: Jayalalithaa

CHENNAI - AIADMK general secretary J. Jayalalithaa Monday demanded immediate action from the Tamil Nadu government to bring back 32 fishermen from the state jailed in Qatar.

The fishermen, hailing from Kanyakumari district, were employed in Saudi Arabia and while fishing crossed the maritime border of Qatar and were arrested, she said in a statement issued here.

Instead of trying to secure their release, their Saudi Arabian employer decided to wash his hands off the issue finding it to be a costly affair, she said.

Slamming the DMK government in the state for its inaction on the matter despite being approached by family members of the fishermen, Jayalalithaa said the fishermen have been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment by a Qatar court.

Jayalalithaa urged Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi to take up the issue with the central government so that the fishermen could be released at the earliest.