Eight Tamil Nadu Fishermen Arrested by Sri Lankan Navy for Crossing Maritime Border

Eight Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy today for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Border Line (IMBL) while fishing near Dhanushkodi and Thalaimannar. The fishermen, who had set out early in the morning from a fishing port in Tamil Nadu, were surrounded by Sri Lankan Navy patrol boats, which apprehended both the crew and their boat.

The arrested fishermen are expected to be handed over to officials of the Mannar Fisheries Department in Sri Lanka. According to the Assistant Director of Fisheries in Rameswaram, the incident occurred among 430 mechanized boats that ventured into the sea for fishing, with only one boat and its eight crew members being detained.

This arrest adds to a growing list of incidents, with at least 163 fishermen having been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy in the past 72 days for allegedly crossing the maritime border. Although the detained fishermen are typically released in batches following diplomatic discussions between India and Sri Lanka, the frequent arrests continue to strain the fishing industry in Tamil Nadu, particularly in the districts of Ramanathapuram, Nagapattinam, and Pudukottai.

Local fishing communities are calling for a permanent diplomatic solution to prevent further disruptions and to safeguard the livelihoods of fishermen in the region.