Eleven fishermen from Tamil Nadu were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on Thursday night after they allegedly crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) while fishing near Neduntheevu (Delft Island). The incident took place when the fishing group, reportedly from coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, entered Sri Lankan waters during their routine fishing expedition.
According to reports, the naval patrol intercepted the fishermen at sea, detained them, and confiscated their fishing boats, which were taken into custody by Sri Lankan authorities. The arrested fishermen were subsequently produced before a local Sri Lankan court, where they were remanded to judicial custody and lodged in Jaffna prison awaiting further legal proceedings.
This is the latest in a series of similar detentions that have strained relations between India and Sri Lanka. In recent years, numerous fishermen from Tamil Nadu have been regularly arrested for alleged IMBL violations, leading to the seizure of boats and growing concern among fishing communities whose livelihoods depend on access to rich fishing grounds in the Palk Strait. Fishermen’s groups and political leaders have repeatedly urged both governments to find a lasting solution to prevent such incidents and protect the interests of coastal fishworkers.