Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai

Chennai, Dec 30: Tension resurfaced in the coastal town of Rameswaram on Tuesday after the Sri Lankan Navy detained three Indian fishermen and confiscated their fishing trawler in the early hours, alleging illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

The latest incident has once again highlighted the persistent and unresolved problem of fishermen from Tamil Nadu being apprehended while operating in the sensitive Palk Strait region.

Officials from the Rameswaram Fisheries Department identified the arrested fishermen as Rooban, Nagarajan and Prabhu. The three had departed from the Rameswaram fishing harbour late on Monday night after obtaining official clearance.

While engaged in fishing near the waters off Neduntheevu (Delft Island), their mechanised trawler was intercepted by a Sri Lankan Navy patrol. The fishermen were taken into custody, and their boat was seized and transported to the Karainagar Naval Base in northern Sri Lanka.

Authorities said that 415 fishing tokens were issued on Monday, allowing fishermen from the region to venture into the sea. Most of the boats were expected to return by Tuesday evening. However, news of the arrests quickly spread, causing anxiety among families waiting for their relatives to return.

Strongly condemning the detentions, V.P. Jesu Raja, a leader of the Rameswaram fishermen’s association, said the repeated arrests had left the community distressed and insecure.

“Despite repeated representations by fishermen and state authorities, our concerns over livelihood and safety remain unaddressed. Both India and Sri Lanka must hold serious talks at the highest level to arrive at a lasting solution,” he said.

Fishermen’s representatives noted that this was the third such incident in less than two weeks. Over the past 15 days, at least 13 fishermen from the region have been detained by the Sri Lankan Navy, and three fishing trawlers have been seized.

Several fishermen arrested earlier were released only after Sri Lankan courts imposed hefty fines, pushing their families into financial strain.

“With our boats confiscated and legal costs piling up, sustaining our livelihoods has become extremely difficult. Every trip to sea is filled with fear and uncertainty,” Jesu Raja said, urging the Union government to intervene swiftly to secure the release of the detained fishermen and their vessels.