Sri Lankan Navy arrests 48 Tamil Nadu fishermen, seize 12 boats

The Sri Lankan Navy arrests 48 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu after firing in the air, Fisheries Assistant director Shivakumar says in Chennai.

Rameswaram, August 8: The Sri Lankan Navy on Tuesday arrested 48 fishermen from Tamil Nadu after firing in the air, official sources said. Twelve mechanised boats of the fishermen were also seized by the Sri Lankan Navy, Fisheries Assistant director Shivakumar told PTI in Chennai.

The fishermen, belonging to Pudukottai and Jagadapattinam districts, were taken to Kangesanthurai by the navy personnel, he said. The navy men allegedly rammed their boats against the mechanised vessels and under its impact four fishermen fell into the sea and were rescued by the naval personnel immediately. Later they fired a couple of shots in the air and asked the fishermen to surrender, which they did.
They were escorted to the fisheries harbour in Karainagar in Jaffna. The fishermen would be handed over to the fisheries inspection office in Jaffna for further action, the navy added.

Fishermen from both countries are arrested frequently by the maritime security agencies of both countries for illegal fishing and often stray into illegal waters due to absence of any proper technology to confirm the coastline border between Pakistan and India near Sir Creek in the Arabian Sea.

OneIndia News (with agency inputs)