Tamil Nadu fishermen strike work protesting death penalty

Around three million fishermen in Tamil Nadu Thursday struck work protesting the death sentence awarded by a Sri Lankan court to five of their compatriots on charges of drug smuggling.

The fishermen's representatives said they were demanding the central government to put pressure on the Sri Lankan government to secure the release of the five fishermen.

Fishermen affiliated to Meenavargal Makkal Munnani (MMM) here struck work and also hoisted black flags atop their houses as a mark of protest against the death penalty.

MMM chief J. Kosumani said over three million fishermen in 10 coastal districts, including Nagapattinam, Tuticorin, Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari and Chennai, participated in the strike saying the charges against the five fishermen were false. - IANS