The Sri Lankan Navy arrested three fishermen from Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathapuram district and seized their fishing boat for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) in the early hours of Sunday. Following the incident, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin wrote to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, urging immediate steps to secure the release of the arrested fishermen.
According to sources, the fishermen — Amostin (24) and John Dass (37) of Thangachimadam, and Paraloga Sebastian (26) of Mandapam — had set out to sea on Saturday from the Mandapam north jetty. They were fishing in a motorised boat owned by Sandhya Joseph. On Sunday morning, while fishing near Neduntheevu, they were intercepted and apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy.
After their arrest, the fishermen were taken to the Kangesanthurai naval camp and later handed over to officials of Sri Lanka’s fisheries department. They were subsequently booked and produced before the Kayts court magistrate, who ordered their remand in judicial custody. The fishermen were later lodged at the Jaffna prison.
In his letter to the External Affairs Minister, Chief Minister Stalin expressed concern over the frequent arrests of Indian fishermen and the seizure of their fishing vessels, stating that such incidents severely disrupt the livelihood of the fishing community. He urged the Union government to take necessary measures to ensure the safety and welfare of Indian fishermen.
The Chief Minister also noted that, at present, 248 fishermen and 61 fishing boats are in the custody of Sri Lankan authorities.
