Families of condemned fishermen meet TN CM

Mr. Panneerselvam told the delegation that his government was pursuing the matter with the Central government on this issue.

Family members of fishermen who were awarded death sentence by the Colombo High Court, coming out after meeting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam at the Secretariat in Chennai on Monday. Photo: K. Pichumani

A delegation of families of five fishermen > who were awarded death sentence by the Colombo High Court, called on Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Monday afternoon at the Secretariat here.

K. Irudhaya Mary, president of the Tamil Nadu Fisherfolk Federation, said the Chief Minister assured the delegation that all steps would be taken to have the sentence overturned and secure the release of the fishermen. He also told the delegation that his government was pursuing the matter with the Central government on this issue. She thanked former chief minister Jayalalithaa and the State government for all the support provided to the families all these years.

The delegation, along with representatives of various fishermen' associations, met the Chief Minister for 40 minutes, according to Anwhar Raajhaa, Member of Parliament representing Ramanathapuram, who was also present in the meeting.