RAMESWARAM, TAMIL NADU, Mar 3: Sri Lankan Naval personnel arrested 16 Indian fishermen and confiscated three mechanised fishing trawlers on charges of illegal poaching in Sri Lankan territorial waters, today.
A senior officer of Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department told that the fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy when they were allegedly poaching in Sri Lankan territorial waters off Kalpitiya in the northwest of the Island nation in the wee hours today.
The incarcerated fishermen were handed over to the Kalpitiya police for investigation.
He said the fishermen did not hail from any of the coastal hamlets right from Rameswaram to Nagapattinam and it was suspected that they might hailed from the southern districts of either Kanyakumari or Tuticorin.
“We are waiting for communication from the Sri Lankan Government over the arrest of fishermen and their identity,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Naval personnel allegedly attacked some Indian fishing trawlers and prevented fishermen from fishing near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), midnight last night.
The fishermen, who returned to Rameswaram shore today, charged the Sri Lankan Navy with hurling stones and soda bottles on the fishing trawlers while they engaged in fishing activities at mid Sea off the controversial Katchatheevu Island.
The Lankan Naval personnel also snapped the fishing nets and seized several kilograms of fishes and prawns from the trawlers. (UNI)
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