Sri Lankan Navy Arrests 21 More Indian Fishermen For Poaching, Two Boats Seized

The fishermen were captured near the Jaffna islet of Delft on Saturday and subsequently taken to the Kankesanthurai port, the Navy said.

Alongside the fishermen, their two trawlers were also confiscated.

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New Delhi: The Sri Lankan Navy has apprehended 21 more Indian fishermen for allegedly trespassing into the country's territorial waters, marking the latest incident this month. The fishermen were captured near the Jaffna islet of Delft on Saturday and subsequently taken to the Kankesanthurai port, the Navy said.

Alongside the fishermen, their two trawlers were also confiscated, reported PTI.

The arrests come a day after the Sri Lanka Navy on Friday detained around 15 Indian fishermen off the coast of Karainagar in the northern Jaffna Peninsula. Thus far this year, Sri Lanka has detained at least 146 Indian fishermen.

The issue of fishermen remains contentious in the relations between India and Sri Lanka, often resulting in confrontations. Incidents include Sri Lankan Navy personnel firing at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seizing their boats for allegedly intruding into Sri Lankan territorial waters.

The Palk Strait, situated between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka, is a lucrative fishing area for both countries, as per the PTI report

Periodically, Indian fishermen are arrested by Sri Lankan authorities for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line and fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

In 2023, the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 240 Indian fishermen along with 35 trawlers for allegedly poaching in Sri Lankan waters, the PTI report added.

Last month, around 18 fishermen who were earlier arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy and released by the local court in the foreign nation returned to Tamil Nadu, their home state.

The fishermen arrived in Tamil Nadu by air from Colombo and were received by the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department officials.

In January, 18 fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly crossing the maritime boundary line in two different incidents. Initially, 10 Indian fishermen were arrested for alleged poaching and a day later 12 other fishermen were arrested for the same reason.