NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, FEB 16
Eleven fishermen hailing from Pudukottai district in Tamil Nadu were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy when they were fishing near the northern coast of the Alanathivu Island on Saturday.
The fishermen had ventured into sea on three mechanised boats from Kottaipattinam and Jegadapattinam coastal villages on Saturday morning.
Coastal Security Group sources said the fishermen were arrested on the charge of trespassing territorial waters.
The arrested fishermen identified are V. Chinnapandi, C. Manikandan, P. Anthony, S. Mariyappan, M. Sakthibalan, M. Sivalingam, R. Rajaguru, T. Krishnamoorthy, T. Dhanapal, S. Mariyappan and K. Muthukumar.
While eight hailed from Jegadapattinam village, three were from Kottaipattinam village.
The fishermen, along with their boats, were taken to Kankensanthurai harbour by Sri Lankan Navy for inquiry.
Confirming the arrest, a Sri Lankan Navy Official said “The fishermen were arrested from the northern coast of the Alanathivu island on Saturday and their three trawlers were taken under the Navy’s charge’’.
The fishermen and their trawlers would be handed over to the Jaffna, fisheries directorate through the coastal conservation department,” the official said.
Navy said that over the months the number of Indian fishing boats poaching in the Sri Lankan waters have reduced due to continuous surveillance.
