A group of seven fishermen from Tamil Nadu were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy earlier today for allegedly entering Sri Lankan territorial waters and engaging in fishing activities near Nedunthivu, an island off the northern Jaffna Peninsula.
The arrests took place during a routine patrol in the region, where naval personnel reportedly observed the fishermen operating their vessel within Sri Lanka’s maritime boundary.
The Navy has also seized the fishing boat used by the arrested individuals. Both the boat and the fishermen were subsequently brought ashore to the Kankesanthurai (Myiliddy) harbour in Jaffna. From there, they were handed over to officials from the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for further legal proceedings.
Incidents involving the arrest of Indian fishermen from Tamil Naduby the Sri Lankan Navy are a frequent source of tension between the two countries. Fishermen's associations in Tamil Nadu have long raised concerns about the treatment of detained individuals and have repeatedly called for a long-term diplomatic solution to the issue of fishing rights and maritime boundaries in the Palk Strait.
