In the second such incident in over two weeks, five fishermen from here were on Thursday taken into custody by Sri Lankan naval force personnel when they were fishing near Katchatheevu, officials said.
Fisheries department officials said the Sri Lankan navy chased fishermen who had put to sea in 711 boats and rounded up three boats. However, fishermen in two boats managed to escape but five fishermen in the third boat were taken into custody. The navy also seized their boat and took the fishermen to Sri Lanka, officials said.
On November 28, five fishermen were arrested by Sri Lankan Naval personnel while fishing in mid-sea and lodged in a prison in Jaffna on charges of drug smuggling. A court in Sri Lanka had on Dec 5 extended their remand till Dec19.
The fisher folk here were agitating against foisting of false cases against the fishermen and demanding their release.
They had also resolved earlier to observe three-day fast from December 16, demanding their release.
