Sri Lankan Navy takes 19 Indian fishermen into custody for fishing near Delft Island

Sri Lankan Navy takes 19 Indian fishermen into custody for fishing near Delft Island

New Delhi: The Sri Lankan Navy arrested 19 fishermen from Rameswaram on Thursday after they were found to be fishing near Delft Island in the Palk Bay Sea, the fishermen’s association said.

The fishermen were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy while they were fishing near Neduntheevu. They were then taken to Kankesanthurai Naval Camp for interrogation.

“480 fishermen from Rameswaram went to the sea yesterday to catch fish. They were fishing near  Neduntheevu in the Bagjalasanthi Sea area. The Sri Lankan Navy arrived there. 19 fishermen were arrested and taken to Kankesanthurai Naval Camp for investigation,” said CR Senthilvel, state secretary, AITUC Fishermen Association.

The two boats that were seized from the fishermen were INT.TN 10 MM 324 and INT.TN 10 MM 925.

The Sri Lankan Navy has been accused of targeting and arresting Indian fishermen over the years. This has resulted in 150 mechanised boats from Tamil Nadu being seized by the Sri Lankan Navy between 2018 and 2024, according to the Rameswaram All Boats Fishermen’s Association.

The fishermen have demanded that the central and state governments take immediate action to secure the release of the seized boats. They have also demanded adequate compensation for damaged vessels and permission for rescue teams to travel to Sri Lanka to rescue the ten boats that have still not been released.