Chennai, June 21 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Thursday requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to direct the Indian Embassy in Iran to take steps to repatriate 21 Indian fishermen stranded there.

In a letter to Modi, which was released to the media here, Palaniswami said the 21 were left stranded in Iran by their employers by withholding their passports.

"I request you to direct the Embassy of India in Iran to take all measures to ensure the immediate repatriation of these poor innocent Indian fishermen. Necessary steps may also be taken to ensure that the fishermen receive their just and due wages," he said.

Palaniswami said the fishermen from Tamil Nadu were employed by Mohammad Shallah and his brothers for more than six months.

"In the recent past, the Iranian employers did not pay the fishermen their share, as per terms of employment. Hence these fishermen were struggling to make their ends meet and were unable to send money to their families," Palaniswami said.

Having lost the hope of receiving a fair remuneration, the fishermen requested the employers to facilitate their return to India which was summarily refused by them, Palaniswami said.

"It is reported that the passports of the fishermen are in the custody of the local employers who is neither allowing them to continue work nor allowing them to return back to India. In addition, the employer chased the fishermen out of their accommodation and abandoned them in the streets without any shelter, food and security," Palaniswami said.

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Ranchi, Aug 15 (PTI): Jharkhand Education Minister Ramdas Soren died on Friday, JMM national spokesperson Kunal Sarangi said.

He was 62.

Soren was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Delhi, where he was admitted on August 2.

"State Education Minister Ramdas Soren, who was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Delhi, is no more," Sarangi told PTI.

Soren's condition was critical and he was on life support, Sarangi said.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader was airlifted to the hospital in the national capital from Jamshedpur after he fell in the bathroom of his residence on August 2.

A multidisciplinary team of senior specialists was closely monitoring his condition and providing intensive medical care.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren condoled his death.

Hemant Soren, in a post on X, wrote, "Ramdas Da (brother) should not have left us like this. Last greetings to Dada..."

Ramdas Soren, born in Ghorabandha village in East Singhbhum district on January 1, 1963, began his political journey as the gram pradhan of the Ghorabanda panchayat, eventually rising to become one of the most influential ministers in the Hemant Soren-led cabinet.

He won the Ghatshila assembly seat for the third time in 2024 by defeating BJP's Babulal Soren, son of former chief minister Champai Soren.