India, March 19 -- Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) lawmaker Vaiko on Wednesday raised the issue of Indian fishermen being attacked and detained by the Sri Lankan navy.

Speaking during Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha, Vaiko said the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 43 Tamil Nadu fishermen in January, and when they were produced in the Kilinochchi court, they were fined lakhs of rupees. "The ones who were unable to pay the fine were sentenced to prison again," he said.

Pointing out that Indian fishermen and their boats have been periodically attacked and taken into custody, Vaiko said, "For the last 40 years, 843 Tamil Nadu fishermen have been killed by the Sri Lankan Navy... On February 2, more than a thousand fishermen went to the sea in...