In a fresh incident in the Palk Strait, the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 22 fishermen from Tamil Nadu on Wednesday for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).
The fishermen, who had ventured into the sea from the Rameswaram region, were apprehended near Kachchathivu island while fishing. Along with the fishermen, four mechanised boats were also seized by Sri Lankan authorities.
Following the arrest, the fishermen were taken to Kankesanthurai for further legal proceedings. The detention has caused concern among families and fishing communities in Ramanathapuram district, who depend heavily on daily fishing activities for their livelihood.
Incidents of arrests by the Sri Lankan Navy have become frequent in recent months, leading to repeated appeals from Tamil Nadu fishermen associations for diplomatic intervention and a permanent solution to the long-standing fishing rights issue in the Palk Strait.