The Sri Lankan navy has arrested 18 Indian fishermen in a special operation on Tuesday, alleging that the fishermen illegally entered 'Sri Lankan waters' in two trawler boats near the low-lying sea area of Mannar District.

The arrested fishermen, along with their two trawler boats, were taken into custody and placed at a Naval Camp. Following their apprehension, the 18 fishermen were handed over to Mannar District Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources officials.

Subsequently, after an interrogation session, the officials presented the fishermen before the Mannar Magistrate's Court on January 17. Notably, the authorities discovered thousands of kilos of fish on the Indian fishermen's boats.

In a court session held on January 17, the Mannar Magistrate ordered the remand of the 18 Indian fishermen until January 31. The charges against them include illegal entry into Sri Lankan waters and engaging in poaching activities.

The incident adds to a series of maritime tensions between Indian fishermen and Sri Lanka Navy that have been ongoing for years, with Tamil Nadu fishermen reporting instances of abuse, torture, and extrajudicial killings by Sri Lanka's Navy. At the same time Sri Lanka's Navy stands accused of restricting the fishing rights of local Tamil residents across the North-East.

^{Images courtesy of Sri Lanka Navy}