Four TN Fishermen Arrested By Sri Lankan Navy For 'Trespassing' Near Delft Island

The confiscated boat by Sri Lankan Navy was taken to Kankesanthurai Naval Camp.

The fishermen were detained near Delft Island. ( Image Source :X/@ANI )

The Sri Lankan Navy apprehended four fishermen from Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu, for allegedly crossing the international maritime boundary and fishing near Delft Island in Northern Sri Lanka.

The fishermen, identified as K. Parthiban (32), K. Sarathy (23), K. Murali (42), and N. Ramadoss (52), were taken into custody along with their boat.

The confiscated boat was taken to the Kankesanthurai Naval Camp.

According to sources from the Coastal Security Group, four fishermen were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy on Tuesday morning near Neduntheevu. They were arrested on charges of trespassing while fishing in the area during the early hours of the day.

 

 

Rameswaram | 4 fishermen belonging to Pudukkottai were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy for catching fish across the border near Delft Island (Northern Sri Lanka). Apprehended fishermen named K. Parthiban (32), K. Sarathy (23), K. Murali (42), N. Ramadoss (52) and the… pic.twitter.com/KKWMhdUvol

— ANI (@ANI) June 18, 2024

 

In March of this year, the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 32 Indian fishermen for allegedly fishing in Sri Lankan waters near Delft and off the coast of Talaimannar. In the first three months of the year, at least 146 Indian fishermen were arrested by Sri Lanka, as per a report on India Today.

In 2023, the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 240 Indian fishermen and seized 35 trawlers for alleged poaching in Sri Lankan waters.

In February 2024, Chief Minister Stalin voiced his concern regarding the frequent arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy and appealed for the intervention of the central government. He specifically requested Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar to take steps to ensure the repatriation of fishermen detained by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Stalin highlighted that these incidents not only endangered the livelihoods of the fishermen but also jeopardized their hard-earned savings.