8 Indian fishermen arrested in Sri Lankan waters
June 24, 2017 11:59 am
Eight Indian fishing poachers and a steel hull bottom trawler have been arrested by Sri Lanka Navy Fast Attack Craft in the Northern territorial waters, Southeast of Point Pedro.
SLN patrol craft attached to the Northern Naval Command whilst engaged in routine patrol apprehended the Indian poachers and a steel hull trawler in Sri Lankan territorial waters, 17 nm Southeast of Point Pedro on Friday evening (23), SLN said.
The apprehended Indian fishermen, trawler and fishing gear have been handed over to the Jaffna Assistant Director of Fisheries for onward legal action.
The incident comes two days after four fishermen from Pudukottai district and 17 from Karaikal region in Puducherry were arrested by Sri Lankan Navy for fishing near Neduntheevu in the island nation.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami had on June 22 sought Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s intervention to secure the release of 20 fishermen from the state and 137 boats, allegedly apprehended by Sri Lankan Navy.
