Nine Indian fishermen arrested

Ramanathapuram: The Sri Lankan Navy on Tuesday morning apprehended two boats carrying 9 Indian fishermen for alleged violation of the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) near Delft Island. The arrested persons were taken to Sri Lanka for further legal proceedings. On Monday, more than 500 boats ventured out to sea from Rameswaram for fishing. While the fishermen were fishing near the IMBL, some boats are said to have entered the IMBL. The Sri Lankan Navy patrol unit chased the boats and it is said that when their boats were in Sri Lankan waters, the Sri Lankan Navy apprehended two Indian boats carrying 9 fishermen near Delft Island. An official of the Fisheries Department in Ramanathapuram said that all the arrested fishermen hail from Rameswaram in Ramanathapuram district. The first boat had five fishermen, identified as Sahaya Robert (49), Yakub (24), Muthuramalingam (65), Radha (44) and Sekar (40). The second boat had a four-member crew, identified as Harikrishnan (50), Pon Ramaraj (26), Ramkumar (24) and Libin Sai (25). The arrested persons were taken to Sri Lanka for legal proceedings. The Fishermen Association of Rameswaram condemned the arrest of the Indian fishermen. Last week, fishermen led by DMK and Congress party leaders had staged massive protests condemning the arrest of fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy. Following this, Indian fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy in July have not yet been released, with the fishermen association urging the central government to take action towards releasing the Indian fishermen and boats seized by the Sri Lankan government.