Sri Lankan Navy Arrests 7 Indian Fishermen for Poaching

Colombo, Jul 1 (PTI) The Sri Lankan Navy announced on Tuesday the arrest of seven Indian fishermen, along with the seizure of their trawler, on charges of allegedly poaching in Sri Lankan waters. This marks the second such incident in a week. The detentions occurred on Monday night within the territorial waters near the Talaimannar region, according to a Navy spokesperson. The detained fishermen and their trawler are to be handed over to the fisheries inspectorate in Mannar. Just the previous Sunday, the Navy had apprehended another group of 8 Indian fishermen. Such arrests often occur as fishermen from both India and Sri Lanka inadvertently trespass into each other’s waters. The issue remains a significant and contentious topic in the diplomatic relations between India and Sri Lanka. There have been multiple alleged incidents where the Lankan Navy has fired upon Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait while seizing their vessels for allegedly entering Sri Lankan territorial waters unlawfully. The Palk Strait, a narrow waterway separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, serves as a rich fishing ground for both Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen.