NAGAPATTINAM: Seven fishermen from Mayiladuthurai were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on Tuesday night for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line while fishing.
According to officials, the fishermen had ventured into the sea from the Kodiyakarai coast near Vedaranyam around 2 pm on Tuesday (January 20) in two fibre boats and were apprehended near Neduntheevu around 10 pm.
One of the fibre boats, owned by K Devaraj of Perumalpettai in Tharangambadi taluk, had four fishermen on board, Devaraj, P Sridhar, N Kalaivanan and R Saranraj. The second boat, owned by V Rajesh of Sirkazhi taluk, had three fishermen on board,including the owner, V Rajesh, R Sathya and S Thanivel.
All seven fishermen are residents of Mayiladuthurai district and were staying at Kodiyakarai for fishing activities, officials said.
Last week, the Sri Lankan Navy had apprehended a mechanised fishing boat and arrested 10 fishermen from Rameswaram for allegedly crossing the IMBL near Neduntheevu.
With Tuesday’s arrest, the number of TN fishers arrested by SL Navy since January 1 has risen to 37, including 11 from Karaikal, nine from Mayiladuthurai and 10 from Rameswaram.
CM urges centre to secure fishers’ release
Chennai: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to intervene through appropriate diplomatic channels to prevent further apprehension of Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities and to secure the immediate release of those currently detained along with their fishing boats. Stalin said such incidents have continued unabated despite repeated representations.