Sri Lankan Navy arrests 47 Indian fishermen, seizes boats

, June 19: The Sri Lankan Navy on Thursday arrested as many as 47

and seized 11 of their

.

Fishermen from a village in Pudukottai district and this coastal town were arrested by Sri Lankan naval personnel in two separate incidents while fishing near Neduntheevu and Katchatheevu islet, a fisheries department official said.

While 24 fishermen in six boats were held near Neduntheevu, 12 of them in three boats were arrested near Kathatheevu islet, Gopinath, Assistant Director of Rameswaram fisheries department, told reporters.

The 24 fishermen were part of a larger group from Jegathapattinam who put out to sea this morning. After their arrest, they were taken to Kankensanthurai in the island nation, he said.

The other fishermen were taken to Talaimannar, he said, adding the boats of all the fishermen were seized.

Katchatheevu, an islet in the Palk Straits, was ceded to Sri Lanka by India in 1974.

Sri Lankan Navy personnel had arrested 82 fishermen on June 7 after they allegedly entered the island nation's waters. However, they were ordered to be released by President Mahinda Rajapakse in a goodwill gesture.

Indian Coast Guard has repatriated 680 fishermen since January this year.

PTI