The Sri Lankan Navy arrested four Indian fishermen along with their boat in the Mannar Sea yesterday, alleging that they had trespassed into Sri Lankan waters and engaged in illegal fishing.
According to the Navy, the arrested fishermen are residents of the Gandhinagar area in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. The operation was reportedly carried out by the North Central Province naval forces as part of an ongoing crackdown on Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait.
Following initial investigations, the four fishermen are set to be handed over to officials from the Mannar District Fisheries Department.
This latest arrest is part of a broader pattern of Sri Lankan naval operations targeting Indian fishermen, particularly those from Tamil Nadu. In a previous ‘special operation’ in Mannar, the Sri Lankan Navy detained 34 Indian fishermen and seized three fishing boats.
The issue of Indian fishermen being detained by Sri Lanka has been a longstanding and deeply contentious one. In 2024 alone, the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 535 Indian fishermen. Many of those detained have reported facing torture and ill-treatment at the hands of Sri Lankan authorities. There have been multiple reports of beatings, confiscation of boats and equipment, and prolonged detention under harsh conditions.
Tamil Nadu’s political leaders have repeatedly urged the Indian government to take stronger action to protect the rights of Indian fishermen and to secure the release of those detained. However, New Delhi’s response has largely remained cautious.
With arrests continuing and tensions rising, the issue remains a flashpoint in Indo-Sri Lankan relations.
