The Sri Lankan Navy arrested 26 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in Palk Straits on charges of poaching in Sri Lankan waters on Saturday night and impounded three trawlers.
The fishermen were caught about 10 nautical miles north of Point Pedro, according to Commander A.I. P De Silva, spokesperson of the Navy.
Seventeen of the 26 fishermen were said to be from Nagapattinam, while the others were from Karaikal.
The Nagapattinam fishermen hailed from Akkaraipettai and Keechankuppam coastal villages.
Fisheries Department officials told The Hindu that the Nagapattinam fishermen set sail in two mechanised boats – IND-TN-06-MM-911 and IND-TN-06-MM-976, on Friday night.
The fishermen from Karaikal left in IND-PY-PK-MM-362 in the early hours on Saturday.
All the fishermen were produced before the Acting Judge, Magistrate’s Court, Point Pedro, on Sunday. They were remanded till July 6, the officials said.
With the latest arrest, the number of Indian fishermen in the custody of the Sri Lankan authorities goes up to 40 and impounded boats to 52, the Navy spokesperson adds.
Seventeen of them were from Nagapattinam, while the others Karaikal
