Ramanathapuram (Tamil Nadu), Feb 23 (UNI) In yet another shocker, the Sri Lankan Navy on Sunday apprehended 32 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and confiscated five mechanized fishing trawlers allegedly for poaching in its territorial waters, even as the mechanized boat fishermen of Rameswaram announced indefinite strike to protest against their detention, demanding immediate and unconditional release of all the TN fishermen and fishing trawlers.
The Sri Lankan Navy claimed that the North Central Naval Command spotted a cluster of Indian fishing boats engaging in illegal fishing, trespassing into Lankan waters.
In response, the Northern Naval Command deployed its craft, while North Central Naval Command deployed its inshore patrol craft to drive away Indian fishing boats poaching in the sea area north of Mannar.
The operation resulted in the apprehension of 32 Indian fishermen and seizure of five Indian boats, who continued to engage in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters.
The detained fishermen together with boats were taken to Talaimannar Pier and later handed over to the Mannar fisheries officials for legal action.
Including the recent operation, the Sri Lankan navy apprehended 131 Indian fishermen and held 18 Indian fishing boats thus far in 2025, it said.
Tamil Nadu fisheries officials said the incarcerated fishermen hailed from Rameswaram and Thangatchimadam coastal hamlet in Ramanathapuram district.
Around 470 mechanised fishing trawlers had set sail into the sea for routine fishing after obtaining mandatory tokens from the Fisheries department from Rameswaram fishing jetty on Saturday morning.
Meanwhile, the Federation of All Mechanised Boats Fishermen Associations in Rameswaram announced an indefinite strike, demanding the central and state governments to take urgent steps for the immediate and unconditional release of all the fishermen and boats detained by Lanka.
The strike call was announced at an emergency meeting of leaders of Fishermen's associations.
The continuous incarceration of fishermen has severely affected the livelihood of the fishing community and other workers depending upon the fishing industry, they added.
UNI GSM SS