Chennai, Nov. 10 – In the early hours on Monday, 14 fishermen from Tamil Nadu were taken into custody by the Sri Lankan Navy in the Palk Strait. The men were accused of crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and entering Sri Lankan waters.
The fishermen left Tharangambadi in Mayiladuthurai district on a mechanised boat registered in Vanagiri on Saturday night, November 8. While out at sea for a routine fishing trip, the crew’s vessel suffered a mechanical fault. They tried to fix it, but the boat drifted off course and slipped into Sri Lankan waters near Point Pedro.
Sri Lankan naval patrols, on a routine surveillance run, spotted the boat early Monday morning. They seized the vessel and detained the 14‑man crew. The fishermen were moved to the Kankesanthurai Naval Base in northern Sri Lanka where they are being questioned.
Local fishermen groups from Mayiladuthurai and Nagapattinam have voiced deep concern. K. Muthu, head of the Tamil Nadu Mechanised Boat Fishermen’s Association, said the fishermen did not intend to cross the boundary – the drift happened because of a mechanical failure. He urges the Indian government to talk to Colombo about getting the men released quickly.
This isn’t the first time somebody from Tamil Nadu has been arrested for a maritime boundary breach. The dispute over fishing rights and land boundaries in the Palk Strait keeps popping up, especially during peak fishing season. Both sides have talked about a permanent solution, but the issue remains unresolved, and arrests still happen.
The Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department has informed the Indian High Commission in Colombo. Officials are checking the fishermen’s identities and coordinating with Sri Lankan authorities to secure their release. The state government plans to file a report with the Union Ministry of External Affairs, arguing for a release on humanitarian grounds.
The incident highlights the ongoing tension between India and Sri Lanka over fishing rights in the Palk Strait. The fate of the 14 fishermen remains uncertain as diplomatic talks continue.
Source: ianslive
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