NAGERCOIL: Forty-nine Indian fishermen from Kanyakumari, Thoothukudi, and Ramanathapuram districts and a few from Gujarat, who went fishing off the UAE coast, have been detained by Iran authorities for trespassing.
A group of 31 fishermen from Kanyakumari district - seven from Muttom, one each from Pillaithoppu, Periacadu, Kesavanputhenthurai, Arockiyapuram and Aasaripallam, six from Rajakkamangalam, nine from Kovalam, two each from Kanyakumari and Chinnamuttom -, two from Periyathazhai in Thoothukudi district, 11 from Ramanathapuram district and five from Gujarat, along with five fishermen from the UAE, were engaged in fishing at Sharjah and Ajman in the UAE.
On November 29 last year, the 54 fishermen ventured into the sea for deep sea fishing off the UAE coast in five launches. On December 1, while they were fishing in Dubai waters, they were allegedly detained by authorities from the Iran Coast Guard.