Navy arrests 16 Indian fishermen

The Navy arrested 16 Tamil Nadu fishermen in the early morning hours of Thursday on charges of trespassing into the country's territorial waters. The Navy also seized the three boats of the fishermen who were fishing near the Palk Strait, ANI reported.

The fishermen have been taken to Kankasanthurai and handed over to authorities, an official said. The arrest comes a week after the Sri Lankan authorities last Friday (November 13) released all the 126 Indian fishermen who were in Sri Lankan custody for poaching in the country's territorial waters.

In return India released 36 Sri Lankan fishermen who were arrested and detained in different states of India. Sri Lanka's Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has said that Sri Lanka was taking a humanitarian view on the Indian fishermen, but was against the vessel owners who decide to send their boats and therefore will confiscate the boats and equipment.

In an earlier occasion, the Minister said most of the fishermen's boats entering Sri Lanka's waters are owned by Tamil Nadu politicians.

[caption id="attachment_88654" align="alignnone" width="300"]The arrested fishermen brought to Jaffna Fisheries department for for further legal action. Pix by N.Lohathayalan[/caption]