Five Sri Lankan fishermen were apprehended by Indian Coast Guard (ICG) here on Sunday morning.
Their fishing boat was seized on the charge of illegal fishing in the Indian waters and violating the Indian Maritime Boundary Line.
A statement from the local office of the ICG said personnel on Coast Guard ship Veera engaged in routine patrol sighted the Sri Lankan fishing boat, ‘Saloman – II', with the five fishermen trespassing into the Indian Ocean at 45 nautical miles South East off Manapad lighthouse.
They took them into custody and brought them to the Old Tuticorin Port before handing them over to local police.
Further investigation is under way. Tuticorin Thermal Police have filed a case in connection with the incident.
The arrested were A. Delin Thussehra Perera (28), D. Gurule Surya Diron Fernando (31), N. Thomas (44), V. Varghula Surya Antony (33) and H. Surya Seone (20).
They belong to Neer Colombo in Sri Lanka.
