Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai

Chennai, Oct 9: Chennai, Oct 9: The Sri Lankan Navy has detained 30 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and seized four trawlers, alleging they crossed into international waters while fishing. The incident took place Wednesday night off Palk Bay, near the maritime boundary between India and Sri Lanka.

On the morning of the incident, 339 boats from Rameswaram and nearby coastal villages had received fishing tokens for their routine deep-sea expedition. While many boats returned safely, one group was intercepted by the Sri Lankan Navy during a routine patrol. The naval forces detained 30 fishermen, confiscated their trawlers and catch, and took them to a naval base in northern Sri Lanka for questioning.

The Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department said information about the detention arrived late at night and was communicated to Indian authorities through official channels. The incident has sparked strong protests among the fishing community in Rameswaram.

Fishermen leader Jesu Raja condemned the detentions and called on the Union government to take immediate diplomatic action to secure their release. He emphasized that this is not only a boundary issue but also concerns the livelihoods of hundreds of families dependent on fishing, urging the government to find a lasting solution.

Another fishermen leader, Sagayam, expressed worry that the arrests have cast a shadow over the upcoming Deepavali celebrations, with many families distressed by the detentions. He appealed to both state and central governments to act quickly to bring back the fishermen and their boats.

This incident adds to a series of similar arrests in Palk Bay, where tensions over fishing rights continue to strain India-Sri Lanka relations despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the long-standing dispute.