Lankan navy apprehends 23 Rameswaram fishermen

MADURAI: Sri Lankan navy on Sunday apprehended 23 fishermen from Rameswaram and seized their three boats on charges of poaching in their territorial waters.

The Sri Lankan navy took the apprehended fishermen to Mayilitti base in Jaffna and handed them over to the local fisheries officials for onward proceedings. The fishermen are likely to be produced before a court on Monday.

Since Jan, the Sri Lankan navy has confiscated 65 fishing boats and detained 485 fishermen.

Condemning the arrest, fishing community members announced a road roko at Pamban on Tuesday.

Fishermen community heads urged state and Union govts to secure the release of all fishermen and their fishing crafts from Sri Lankan custody at the earliest.

Tamil Manila Congress functionary G K Vasan condemned the arrest and urged the state and Union govts to protect the fishermen and their livelihood.