KARAIKAL: The Sri Lankan navy arrested 11 fishermen from Karaikal district on Thursday midnight alleging that they have crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) into Sri Lankan waters.
According to sources, a group of 11 fishermen ventured into the sea from Karaikal fishing harbour on December 29 in a mechanised boat owned and operated by R Raja (39) of Kasakudimedu coastal village of Karaikal. Sources said on Thursday midnight, they were fishing off the coast of Kodiyakarai when the Sri Lankan Navy personnel arrested them alleging that the boat had entered Sri Lankan waters.
Those arrested included Raja, R Johnsina (18), N Chandranath (35), K Selvamani (58), A Murugan (34), R Pradeep (39), T Sakthivel (34), R Ranjith (37), S Velayutham (50), P Mathiyazhagan (43) and M Mohanraj (51). Their boat was also seized, sources added.
Meanwhile, family members of the arrested fishers appealed to the Puducherry government and centre to take immediate steps to release the fishermen from Sri Lankan custody.