Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu) Mar 27 (UNI) The Sri Lankan Navy on Thursday arrested eleven Indian fishermen and seized their mechanized fishing trawler allegedly for violating the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and indulging in illegal fishing activities in its territorial waters.
Fisheries department officials said here that the fishermen, hailing from Rameswaram were arrested by the Sri Lankan navy, when they were fishing on the high seas close to the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Navy claimed that during a special operation to curb illegal fishing practices of foreign fishing boats, trespassing into Island nation’s waters, an Indian fishing boat with eleven Indian fishermen on board were arrested who engaged in illegal fishing in the northern sea area off the Delft Island.
The apprehended fishermen and their boat were taken to the Kankesanthurai Harbour, where they will be handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Mailadi for onward legal proceedings.
With this, the Sri Lankan maritime forces arrested 156 Indian fishermen and seized 20 Indian fishing trawlers, so far this year.
UNI GSM SJC