Chennai, Feb. 23 -- Following the apprehension of 12 fishermen along with a mechanised boat by the Sri Lankan Navy on Sunday night, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to initiate immediate diplomatic intervention to secure the release of the detained fishermen.

He also called for efforts to free 104 other fishermen and 259 fishing boats belonging to Tamil Nadu that remain in Sri Lankan custody.

In a letter to the EAM, Stalin drew attention to Sunday's incident in which a mechanised fishing boat from Rameswaram, carrying 12 fishermen, was apprehended by the Sri Lanka Navy.

He stated that a total of 116 fishermen from Tamil Nadu, including these 12, are currently in the custody of S...