RAMANATHAPURAM/TIRUCHI
Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 13 fishermen – eight from Mandapam near Rameswaram and five from Jagadapattinam in Pudukottai district – along with three vessels on a charge of trespassing into the territorial waters of the island nation after crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) while fishing on the high seas.
Reports received here said the fishermen, who ventured into the sea on Wednesday morning, were fishing on the high seas when the Sri Lankan Navy personnel arrested them in the evening. The Jagadapattinam fishermen were fishing near near ‘Neduntheevu’ in a vessel and the Mandapam fishermen were fishing west of Delft island in two trawlers, when the Lankan navy personnel apprehended them.
“The 13 fishermen were poaching in Sri Lankan waters when naval personnel onboard a fast patrol vessel and fast attack craft attached to the northern naval command apprehended (them) during their patrol in northern seas,” the Sri Lanka Navy website said. The navy handed over the arrested fishermen to Kankesanthurai police for legal action, the reports said. They were likely to be produced before a magistrate court and remanded in judicial custody, the reports added.
