As many as 12 fishermen from Kanyakumari district were arrested by the British Navy in the British Indian Ocean Territory near Diego Garcia, an island belonging to Britain, around 10 p.m. on April 19.
Kerala boat
According to officials of the Fisheries Department, the fishermen had on April 10 ventured into sea from Cochin fishing harbour in a mechanised boat, ‘Beo Hingis’, registered in Kerala. The boat was owned by P. Nashian of Vattavilagam of Thoothur in Kanyakumari district.
The arrested fishermen were kept in the port in Diego Garcia island by the British Navy.
The arrested fishermen were identified as S. Shiboo (40), L. Lenin (24) of Thoothur, D. Rajish (21), E. Ebald (20), L. Christhuraj (21), S. Arulseelan (21), S. Sudhan (18), K. Pinto (26) all from Mulloorthurai, J. Mariadasan (41), F. Baskel Philon (39) of Mel Midalam and P. Nishant (20) and V. Prashanth of Thuckalay.
State Govt. alerted
The identity of the fishermen was sent to the State government for taking diplomatic efforts for their release through the Union government. A Fisheries Department official said repeated instructions and warning to the fishermen not to venture into the international waters did not evoke any desired response.
