Daijiworld Media Network - Mayiladuthurai

Mayiladuthurai, Jan 21: In a fresh incident of maritime tension, seven fishermen from Mayiladuthurai district were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on Tuesday night for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) while fishing.

Officials said the fishermen had ventured into the sea from the Kodiyakarai coast near Vedaranyam around 2 pm on Tuesday in two fibre boats. They were intercepted near Neduntheevu around 10 pm.

One of the fibre boats, owned by K Devaraj of Perumalpettai in Tharangambadi taluk, had four fishermen – Devaraj, P Sridhar, N Kalaivanan, and R Saranraj. The second boat, owned by V Rajesh of Sirkazhi taluk, carried three fishermen – V Rajesh, R Sathya, and S Thanivel.

All seven fishermen are residents of Mayiladuthurai district and had been staying at Kodiyakarai for fishing purposes, officials said.

This comes days after a mechanised fishing boat from Rameswaram was seized by the Sri Lankan Navy and 10 fishermen arrested for a similar alleged IMBL violation near Neduntheevu.

Authorities have warned fishermen to remain cautious and avoid crossing the maritime boundary to prevent further arrests and legal complications.