On the charge of fishing in the territorial waters of the island nation, 12 fishermen from Tamil Nadu have been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on Sunday.
On Sunday, the fisheries department said that the fishermen, who had put to out to sea from Jegadapattinam in Pudukottai district, were arrested near Neduntheevu late on Saturday night.
Asst. Director of Fisheries – Alexander said that the fishermen along with their two mechanised boats had been taken to Kankesanthurai Port in northern Sri Lanka by Sri Lankan Navy.
Fisheries officials said that around 2,000 fishermen from Rameswaram who were fishing near Neduntheevu in 500 boats were chased away by the Sri Lankan Naval personnel and they returned to the shores here last night.
This latest incident of the arrest of Indian Fishermen is the 5th such detention of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy this month.
On 14th March this year, Sri Lanka released 77 fishermen as many as 38 fishermen including those who were arrested today, are in the custody of the neighbouring nation.
On 23rd March, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu – K Palaniswami had written to PM Narendra Modi seeking his intervention to ensure the release of the fishermen and 131 boats in the custody of Sri Lanka.
CM of Tamil Nadu – Palaniswami, voicing concern over the recurring detentions of fishermen, had appealed to Prime Minister Modi to direct the External Affairs Ministry to take up the matter with Sri Lankan authorities in a decisive and concrete manner.
Tamil Nadu’s fishermen have also staged protests in the state over the recent killing of a colleague allegedly by Sri Lankan Naval personnel. The fishermen demanded steps to resolve the issue of fishing rights in the Palk Straits with the neighbouring nation and ensure that their livelihood was protected.
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