Around nine fishermen from Rameswaram were detained by the Sri Lankan Navy off the coast of Tamil Nadu for allegedly fishing beyond the Indian maritime border. The incident occurred on Monday with the Sri Lankan Navy also seizing two powerboats.
According to ANI, 2 powerboats and 9 fishermen from Rameswaram were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy off the coast of Tamil Nadu, claiming that they were fishing beyond the Indian border. The fishermen had gone fishing on 535 boats to the Gulf of Mannar.
The detained fishermen were part of a larger group fishing in the Gulf of Mannar on 535 boats. The Sri Lankan authorities claimed that the fishermen were apprehended near Thalaimannar, according to a report on ANI.
However, the incident has heightened tensions in the region, particularly following a significant protest by Rameswaram fishermen on July 19. The protest was in response to the continued arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy. This year alone, 74 fishermen have been detained, prompting demands for their immediate release.
The protesters also called for the return of 170 steamboats and country boats that have been seized by the Sri Lankan Navy from 2018 to 2024. They urged both the central and Tamil Nadu governments to provide compensation for any damages incurred to their vessels, as per the report.
The demonstration organised by the Fishermen of Rameswaram and the Pampan All Fishermen Federation took place near the Rameswaram bus station.