Sri Lankan Navy Detains 35 Indian Fishermen in Controversial Operation

Recent Arrests of Indian Fishermen

Colombo: The Sri Lankan Navy has apprehended 35 Indian fishermen and confiscated four of their trawlers, claiming they were engaged in illegal fishing during a nighttime operation that concluded early Monday.

According to Navy spokesperson Commander Buddika Sampath, the arrests took place in the waters near Kankesanthurai in the northern Jaffna district.

The detained fishermen, along with their fishing gear, will be transferred to the fisheries inspectorate in the northern region for further proceedings, as stated by the Navy.

This incident marks the second time within a month that the Navy has made such arrests.

Previously, on October 9, 47 Indian fishermen were taken into custody, and five of their trawlers were seized at Talaimannar for similar allegations of illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

The issue of fishermen has been a point of tension in India-Sri Lanka relations, with reports of Sri Lankan Navy personnel occasionally firing upon Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seizing their vessels for trespassing into Sri Lankan territorial waters.