Eight fishermen from Tamil Nadu arrested by Sri Lankan navy

Mangalore Today News Network

June 24, 2017: Eight Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested early on Saturday by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly fishing in territorial waters of the island nation, police said.

The fishermen from Nagapattinam were fishing near Paruthithurai, when the Sri Lankan naval personnel came and took them to Kangesanthurai port, they said.

The joint director of the fisheries department in Nagapattinam district, Amala Xavier, said the fishermen using mechanised fishing boat, were arrested on charges of violation of the International Maritime Boundary Line and fishing in the exclusive zone meant for Lankan fishermen.

Their boat was also impounded, the official said.

The incident comes two days after four fishermen from Pudukottai district and 17 from Karaikal region in Puducherry were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly fishing near Neduntheevu in the island nation.

Tamil Nadu chief minister K Palaniswami on June 22 sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention to secure the release of 20 fishermen from the state and 137 boats, allegedly apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy.

As many as 22 fishermen from the state have been arrested by Sri Lankan authorities since the ban on fishing ended on June 15, fisheries department officials said.

Courtesy: Hindustantimes