Ramanathapuram (Tamil Nadu) Feb 9 (UNI) The Sri Lankan Navy on Sunday arrested 14 Indian fishermen and seized their two mechanised fishing trawlers allegedly for violating the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and indulging in illegal fishing activities in its territorial waters.
Fisheries department officials said here that the fishermen, hailing from Rameswaram, Thangachimadam, and Pamban in Ramanathapuram, were arrested by the Sri Lankan navy during a special operation when they were fishing in the sea area north of Mannar.
The arrested fishermen, together with the seized boats, were taken to Iranativu Island and handed over to the Assistant Directorate of Fisheries, Kilinochchi, for onwards legal proceedings.
With this, the Sri Lankan maritime forces arrested 89 Indian fishermen and seized ten Indian fishing trawlers so far this year.
Meanwhile, leaders of various fishermen associations in Rameswaram strongly condemned the arrests and appealed to the central government to take appropriate steps for the immediate release of incarcerated fishermen and their boats.
UNI GSM ARN