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Navy arrests 53 Tamil Nadu poachers
The Navy arrested 53 Indian fishermen who were poaching on three occasions in Sri Lanka’s territorial waters this week, Navy spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya said.
Pic by Amadoru Amarajeewa
He said 22 Indian fishermen were arrested off the coast of Talaimannar in the north while another 24 fishermen were arrested off the Delft Islands. In a separate incident, the Navy arrested 23 Indian fishermen off Talaimannar and seized 5 boats, the Navy media unit said.
“Seven more Indian fishermen were arrested in the seas off Trincomalee on Friday for poaching in Sri Lankan waters. All 11 boats were seized,” he said.
Indian media reported that the fishermen, all from Tamil Nadu, were arrested while fishing in Indian waters and had not trespassed into Sri Lankan waters.
The fishermen alleged that they were attacked by the Sri Lanka Navy and driven back.
They claimed the Navy cut and destroyed their fishing nets.
However, Commander Warnakulasuriya denied the attacks on Indian fishermen.
“We categorically deny these accusations. No such incident took place. When we arrested the 53 fishermen, they were well within Sri Lankan waters,” he said.