Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, December 28 (ANI): Three Indian fishermen were apprehended on Sunday by the Sri Lankan Navy, according to the Rameswaram Fishermen Association.
The fishermen had set out to sea on Saturday from the northern coast of Mandapam in a boat bearing registration number IND-TN-11-MM-96, owned by A. Joseph, a resident of Mandapam.
While fishing near Neduntheevu in the Palk Strait, the Sri Lankan Navy arrived at the location and, alleging that the fishermen had crossed the international maritime boundary, arrested them and confiscated their boat.
After questioning, the fishermen were handed over by the Navy to the Sri Lankan Coast Guard and subsequently to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
Following interrogation, a magistrate ordered that the fishermen be remanded until January 7.
Earlier, on December 26, the Indian Coast Guard ship Rani Durgavati facilitated the repatriation of four Indian fishermen from Sri Lankan authorities, the Indian Coast Guard said in a post on X.
The post stated that the ship escorted and handed over the fishermen and one Indian fishing boat at the International Maritime Boundary Line to local fisheries authorities in Nagapattinam.
In October, fifteen Indian fishermen who had been released from a Sri Lankan prison arrived at Chennai airport. They had been detained at different times earlier this year for allegedly crossing maritime boundaries while fishing.
Of the 15 fishermen, two were detained on February 19, seven on July 13, two on July 21, and four on August 8.
Meanwhile, on September 28, the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 12 fishermen from Karaikal while they were fishing in the Bay of Bengal near Kankesanthurai, according to the Rameswaram Fishermen Association.
The association said the Navy accused them of crossing the international maritime boundary and took them to the Kankesanthurai naval camp for questioning, seizing their boat as well.
About The Author
