Colombo: Nine Indian fishermen have been arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy for allegedly poaching in that country’s territorial waters. Their trawler has also been seized, an official statement said.
The fishermen were arrested on Saturday after crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) into Sri Lankan waters south of Delft Island, Jaffna, the statement said.
“During the operation, one Indian fishing trawler was seized, while nine Indian fishermen on board were taken into custody by SLNS Samudura,” it said.
Those apprehended were taken to Kankesanthurai Harbour and will be handed to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for further legal proceedings, it added.
Till July this year, there were 30 Indian fishermen in Sri Lanka’s custody.
The arrest of fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities is a contentious issue between the two friendly nations. There are allegations of high-handedness by Sri Lankan authorities fishing in the Palk Strait.
There have even been reports of the Sri Lanka Navy opening fire on Indian fishermen and seizing their trawlers. While most of the fishermen are from Tamil Nadu, some are from Puducherry, Odisha and West Bengal.
The Palk Strait, a narrow strip of water separating India from Sri Lanka, is a rich fishing ground for fishermen from both countries.
