The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 14 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu’s Rameswaram region on charges of crossing the maritime border while fishing.
Ten of the fishermen, who had set out from the Pamban South Fishing Port in a motorboat owned by a man named Maran, were apprehended near the Kalpitiya sea area and taken to the Puttalam Naval Base. After initial questioning, they were handed over to the Puttalam Fisheries Department for further action.
In a separate incident, four fishermen from Thiruppalaikudi were also arrested and taken to Kankesan Port in Sri Lanka. Authorities have stated that they will be produced in court soon.
Incidents of the Sri Lankan Navy arresting Indian fishermen for allegedly straying into Sri Lankan waters have become increasingly common. The Tamil Nadu government continues to pressure the Indian Central government to intervene and find a lasting solution to the issue.
Over the past six weeks, more than 40 Indian fishermen have been detained by Sri Lankan authorities, with their boats impounded—leaving families in distress and demanding immediate intervention. The ongoing arrests have caused deep concern among the fishing communities in Rameswaram, who fear for the safety and future of their livelihoods.
