In the latest escalation of maritime tensions in the Palk Strait, the Sri Lankan Navy has arrested three fishermen from Tamil Nadu and seized their mechanised fishing boat on charges of crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) while fishing near Neduntheevu (Delft Island).
The trio, identified as Amostin A (24), Jonedass S (37), and Paraloga Jebastian Anrose A (25), had ventured into the sea from Mandapam North fishing harbour along with over 300 other mechanised fishing vessels. Sri Lankan naval personnel intercepted their boat in the early hours of Sunday and took the fishermen into custody, along with their vessel, for further investigation.
The arrested fishermen were later handed over to the Jaffna Fisheries Department at Mailady fishing harbour. According to local reports, they have been remanded in custody by a Sri Lankan court, with orders keeping them in prison until January 7 for judicial procedures.
The incident has triggered strong reactions among the fishing community in Ramanathapuram district, where livelihoods depend heavily on deep-sea fishing. Fishermen’s associations have condemned the recurring arrests, calling them a serious threat to the economic survival of coastal families.
In protest against the latest detention and frequent seizures of Indian fishing boats, local fishermen launched an indefinite strike on Monday, disrupting fishing activities across the region. The Mandapam Fishermen Association has demanded the immediate release of the detained men and their boat, and urged the Indian government to intervene decisively.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has written to Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, seeking urgent diplomatic engagement with Sri Lankan authorities to secure the release of the fishermen and prevent future arrests. In his letter, the Chief Minister expressed deep concern over the continued hardship faced by fishing communities, noting that hundreds of Tamil Nadu boats and fishermen remain in Sri Lankan custody due to similar incidents.
This is not the first such episode in recent weeks. On December 23, the Sri Lankan Navy had apprehended 12 fishermen from Rameswaram and seized their boat for alleged IMBL violations, prompting protests and brief work stoppages by local fishing groups.
Fishermen from Tamil Nadu have frequently clashed with Sri Lankan naval forces over fishing rights in the Palk Strait, with recurring arrests highlighting the broader unresolved dispute over maritime boundaries and access to traditional fishing grounds.