23 fishermen from Tamil Nadu have been taken into custody by the Sri Lankan Navy, and two boats have been impounded for reportedly fishing beyond the maritime border.
Following the acquisition of the requisite authorization from Fisheries Department authorities, 3,000 fishermen departed on Saturday in 540 boats.
Around two in the morning, when they were returning to Rameswaram via crossing Neduntheevu, the fishermen were reportedly harassed and forced to disperse by the Sri Lankan Navy. As a result, fishing nets and vessels sustained damage.
23 more fishermen were taken into custody by the Navy officers on board the ship.
This comes days after MK Stalin, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, voiced worries about the arrests of six fishermen on January 22 in Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu, describing it as a “disturbing trend”.
He asked the Centre to form a team in a letter to S. Jaishankar, the Minister of External Affairs, citing the “pressing need” for diplomatic measures to handle the issue.
