Indian fishermen held by Lankan Navy

Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, Apr 7 (UNI) Tension prevailed here following reports that five Indian fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy.

A senior official of the State Fisheries Department here this evening told UNI that they had received information from the Sri Lankan Embassy that a Lankan naval personnel had arrested five fishermen for trespassing into territorial waters of the island nation by crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) on the night of April five.

The fishermen were taken to Jaffna where they were remanded to ten days judicial custody. The Lankan Navy also seized the country boat, used by them.

The incident was reported to Tamil Nadu Government for initiating necessary action.

Though the Lankan Navy made the arrest on April five night, it came to light only today.

Several fishermen associations appealed to the State Government to take up the matter with the Centre for the safe release of fishermen.

UNI GSM GKT PD PM1940