Sri Lankan Navy arrested seven Indian fishermen

Chennai: Seven fishermen from Pudukkottai district of the state were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy in the early hours of Sunday. According to available information, they were arrested off Neduntheevu on charges of trespassing into Sri Lankan territorial waters after crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). The fishermen had gone into the sea for fishing in two mechanized boats from Jegathapattinam port on Saturday morning. Tamil Nadu coastal police officials told IANS that the fishermen along with their boats have been taken to the Kankesanthurai naval base. The arrested fishermen were identified as S. Kaliappan (53), P. Akilan (18), P. Kodi Mari (65), S. Sheikh Abdullah (35), K. Thangaraj (54), A. Jayaraman (40) and S. Saravanan (24). Tamil Nadu Fishermen Welfare Association general secretary M.R. “There seems to be no end to our troubles. Fishermen are not able to go to sea. We urge the state and central governments to ensure that fishermen can fish peacefully in the sea,” Mariyappan told IANS. ”