In a recent development, twenty-seven Indian fishermen found themselves in the custody of the Sri Lankan Navy for alleged cross-border fishing in Sri Lankan territorial waters. These fishermen set sail with five boats, all of which were seized by the Sri Lankan authorities. Four of the boats departed from Rameswaram, while the fifth boat left from Mandapam on a fateful Saturday morning.As per reports, two of the boats and their occupants were detained near Talaimannar, and three other boats were captured near Jaffna. The news of their detention has prompted the fishermen of Rameswaram to organise an indefinite strike beginning on Monday. Additionally, they plan to stage a protest at the Pamban road bridge on Wednesday, demanding the prompt release of their fellow fishermen.
Simultaneously, the International Fishermen Development Trust (INFIDET) has called for the immediate release of 32 Indian fishermen, hailing from Tamil Nadu and Kerala. These fishermen were detained in the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) by the Diego Garcia authorities on September 27, alleging violations of marine boundaries.