Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai
Chennai, Nov 3: In a fresh escalation of the long-standing fishing rights dispute in the Palk Bay, the Sri Lankan Navy on Monday arrested 35 fishermen from Tamil Nadu for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and fishing in Sri Lankan territorial waters.
According to official sources, the arrests occurred in the early hours of Monday near northern Sri Lanka when naval patrol vessels intercepted three mechanised Indian boats operating close to the coast. The vessels, along with their fishing equipment and catch, were seized during the operation.
Of the detained fishermen, 31 are from Nagapattinam district, having set out from the Akkaraipettai and Thopputhurai harbours on Sunday evening. The remaining four fishermen belong to Ramanathapuram district.
Reports indicate that the detained individuals were taken to Kankesanthurai port in northern Sri Lanka for interrogation and are expected to be produced before a local court following initial inquiries. The confiscated boats have been handed over to the Jaffna Fisheries Department for further legal proceedings.
The arrests have caused deep concern among coastal communities in Nagapattinam and Ramanathapuram, where families of the detained fishermen have appealed to both the Tamil Nadu and Union governments to take swift diplomatic action to secure their release.
Fishermen’s associations strongly condemned the incident, criticising the repeated detention of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities. They urged New Delhi and Colombo to resume high-level bilateral talks aimed at establishing a permanent and humane framework to resolve the recurring maritime conflict.
Union leaders pointed out that adverse weather, rough seas, and limited navigation technology often cause boats to drift beyond the IMBL inadvertently. They reiterated demands for the Indian government to expedite efforts for the release of the fishermen and their vessels while exploring measures such as joint patrolling and clearly demarcated fishing zones.
This marks the third major arrest of Indian fishermen in recent months, highlighting the persistent and sensitive nature of the India–Sri Lanka fisheries dispute, which continues to affect livelihoods along Tamil Nadu’s coastline.