Sri Lankan authorities have arrested 14 Indian fishermen, claiming that they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters.
The Sri Lankan navy also took into custody three fishing trawlers that belonged to the fishermen. The Indian Consulate in Jaffna is reportedly in touch with the arrested fishermen and has said that they are likely to be produced before the Kayts Magistrate.
Meanwhile a group of 20 Indian fishermen were chased away by the Sri Lankan navy on Sunday whilst fishing in the Palk Strait.
President of Rameswaram Fishermen Organisation S Emiret said that whilst the group was fishing Sri Lankan naval personnel had approached the fishermen, and out of fear of attack the fishermen cut their nets and sailed away.
The incidents come just days after Sri Lanka released 5 Indian fishermen who were on death row.
See our earlier posts:
Protest against death sentence of remaining Eelam-Tamil fishermen held in North-East (21 November 2014)
Indian fishermen freed after Rajapaksa issues pardon (19 November 2014)
Rajapaksa pardons Indian fishermen, after India files appeal (12 November 2014)
India gives 'unstinted support' to death row fishermen (04 November 2014)
We need your support
Sri Lanka is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist. Tamil journalists are particularly at threat, with at least 41 media workers known to have been killed by the Sri Lankan state or its paramilitaries during and after the armed conflict.
Despite the risks, our team on the ground remain committed to providing detailed and accurate reporting of developments in the Tamil homeland, across the island and around the world, as well as providing expert analysis and insight from the Tamil point of view
We need your support in keeping our journalism going. Support our work today.
For more ways to donate visit https://donate.tamilguardian.com.
