Expedite repatriation of released TN fishermen from Lanka, TN CM tells Centre
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Chennai (PTI): Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday urged the Centre to take necessary steps to expedite the repatriation of Tamil Nadu fishermen released by a Sri Lankan court but languishing in Mirihana Detention Centre.
A Sri Lankan court ordered the release of nine fishermen who were apprehended by the Sri Lankan navy in January.
The Jaffna court tried a total of 12 fishermen on February 3, including three from Mandapam, who were taken into custody on December 28, 2025, and nine from Mayiladuthurai, apprehended on January 3, he said in a letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
Following the court proceedings, three boat drivers were sentenced to six months’ rigorous imprisonment and were each imposed a fine of Lankan rupees of 11.60 lakh, with an additional three months’ imprisonment in the event of default.
The remaining nine fishermen were ordered to be released and were subsequently transferred to the Mirihana Detention Centre on February 5. "However, they continue to remain in custody owing to delays in completing the repatriation formalities," the chief minister said in the letter.
"Given the hardships faced by the fishermen there and the distress by their families concerned, I request that urgent steps may kindly be taken to expedite the repatriation of the released fishermen at the earliest," Stalin said.
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Voting begins for Assam's 126 assembly seats
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Guwahati (PTI): Polling for all 126 Assam assembly constituencies began on Thursday to decide the electoral fate of 722 candidates, officials said.
In the high-stakes election, the ruling BJP is aiming for a third consecutive term in office, while the Congress seeks to wrest power after being ousted in 2016.
Polling, being held in a single phase, began at 7 am and will conclude at 5 pm. Long queues of voters were seen outside polling stations from early morning.
An electorate of 2.50 crore, including 1.25 crore women and 318 from the third gender, can exercise their franchise in 31,490 polling stations across the state.
Prominent candidates include Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Congress state president Gaurav Gogoi, assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary, Leader of the opposition Debabrata Saikia, AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal, Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi, and Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) chief Lurinjyoti Gogoi.
Several cabinet ministers, including the AGP’s Atul Bora and Keshav Mahanta, and the BPF’s Charan Boro are also in the fray.
The Congress has the highest of 99 contestants, followed by the BJP (90), AIUDF (30), NDA allies AGP (26) and BPF (11).
Opposition alliance’s Raijor Dal is contesting in 13, AJP in 10, CPI(M) in 3 and APHLC in 2. Outside the two coalitions, the AAP is contesting in 18 seats, UPPL in 18, TMC 22, JMM 16 and there are 258 independents.
The ruling NDA’s main constituents are the BJP, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Bodo Peoples’ Front (BPF) while the opposition alliance comprises the Congress, Raijor Dal, Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), CPI(M), All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC) and CPI(ML).
The counting of votes is scheduled on May 4.
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