KARAIKAL: Around 13 fishers from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on Monday night for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line and fishing in Sri Lankan waters. Two fishers were allegedly injured in the navy's gunfire.
The arrested fishers include four from Kilinjalmedu, two from Pattinacherry in Karaikal district, two from Vanagiri, one from Chandirapadi in Mayiladuthurai district and four from Nambiyar Nagar in Nagapattinam district.
The crew ventured into the sea in a mechanized boat from Karaikal fishing harbour on Sunday morning. They were fishing a few nautical miles southeast of Kodiyakarai on January 27.
Around 9.30 pm, the Sri Lankan Navy confronted them as the fishers allegedly crossed IMBL and were in fishing in Sri Lankan waters.
During the confrontation, the navy allegedly fired at the boat when the fishers attempted to flee.
"Indian fishermen attempted to assault the naval personnel and snatch the fire arm from an officer during the action. In an accidental firing, two Indian fishermen were injured," Sri Lankan Navy says in a press statement on arrest of 13 Indian fishers
The navy eventually apprehended the fishers and seized the boat, the fishing gear and the fish catch.
The fishers were directed to Kangesanthurai Harbour in Sri Lanka and handed over to the local authorities. The two injured fishers are currently under treatment in Teaching Hospital in Jaffna.
The mechanized boat is registered in the name of K Ananthavelu from Kilinjalmedu in Karaikal district. The Kilinjalmedu fisherfolk requested the Union and Puducherry governments to aid in recovering the boat and repatriating the arrested fishers from Sri Lanka.