New Delhi: As many as 284 Indian fishermen were arrested and as many as 53 boats confiscated by Sri Lanka during 2019 and 2020, the Union government said.
Replying to questions from Anbumani Ramadoss, Minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan told the Rajya Sabha that 210 men were arrested and 42 boats seized in 2019 while 74 were arrested and 11 boats confiscated the next year.
Last month, 12 Indian fishermen were arrested and two boats confiscated. Earlier, expressing authorities’s deep anguish over the lack of lives of fishermen, exterior affairs minister S Jaishankar mentioned on Thursday India had requested Sri Lanka to take care of points pertaining to fishers in a humane method.
The Minister was responding to questions raised by Rajya Sabha member Vaiko with regard to the collision of the fishing vessel and Sri Lankan Navy vessel that claimed the lives of 4 fishermen from Ramanathapuram district on January 18.