In a significant escalation of tensions in the Palk Strait, 47 fishermen from Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, were arrested today by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and fishing in Sri Lankan waters. Five fishing trawlers belonging to the fishermen were also seized, and the arrested were taken to Jaffna for further action. This marks the first large-scale arrest of fishermen in 2025 on a single day.Reacting to the incident, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin condemned the arrests and wrote to External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, urging immediate diplomatic steps to secure the release of the fishermen and their boats. Stalin highlighted that such incidents jeopardize the safety, livelihoods, and morale of the fishing community, noting that 242 fishing boats and 74 fishermen from Tamil Nadu remain in Sri Lankan custody as of today. He also called for the revival of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group (JWG) to engage with fishermen associations and prevent future occurrences.
The fishing community has expressed deep concern over repeated incidents, urging both Central and State governments to restore their traditional fishing rights and ensure a permanent solution to the long-standing maritime disputes.