Ahead of Pamban Country Boat fishermen strike, Lankan Navy apprehends 7 Indian fishermen
Chennai, Oct 10: Sri Lankan Navy has reportedlyapprehended seven Indian fishermen from Pudukkottai district near Delft Island. Two country made boats were also seized.
This happened on Thursday morning.
This comes at a time when Pamban Country Boat fishermen are set to go on a hunger strike on October 11 urging the release of fishermen detained by both Sri Lanka and India.
Association President of Pamban Country Boat Fishermen, MS Arul told ANI, "Eighteen Sri Lankan fishermen were detained by the Indian Coast Guard for crossing the borderline and fishing in Indian waters. The fact is that fishermen sail with the flow of water and follow the wind directions. Same is the case with the Indian fishermen as they also sail on foreign water many times so this is not valid."
[Tamil Nadu-Sri Lanka drug nexus: Something fishy about these fishermen]
On September 19, Sri Lanka Navy Wednesday arrested five fishermen from Tamil Nadu for allegedly breaching the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and illegally fishing in Sri Lankan waters.
Naval personnel attached to the Northern Naval Command during a patrol conducted in the sea area northwest of the Kovilam Point arrested the Indian fishermen along with a fishing trawler engaged in illegal fishing practices.
On
Aug
20,
Sri
Lankan
Navy
apprehended
four
Indian
fishermen
on
charges
of
trespassing
into
their
waters.
The
four
men
were
fishing
in
the
Balkbay
sea
near
Delft
island
on
Tuesday
morning
when
the
Lankan
navy
personnel,
who
were
on
a
routine
patrol
in
the
area,
arrested
them
and
seized
their
fishing
trawler,
said
CR
Senthilvel,
State
Secretary
of
Tamilnadu
Fishermen
Federation.