29 Indian fishermen detained by Sri Lankan navy

PTI: Twenty-nine fishermen from Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu were detained yesterday by Sri Lankan naval personnel when they were fishing off Trincomallee coast in Sri Lanka, an Indian fisheries department official said.

The naval men also took their three boats along with them, according to information reaching Joint Director of Fisheries Department, Subburaj.

He said that the fishermen from Akkaraipettai in Nagapattinam district, along with their boats, had been taken to an army camp in Trincomallee, adding, they have been detained there.

On December 23, fishing nets of a group of fishermen from Rameswaram were allegedly cut by Lankan navy personnel when they were fishing near Katchatheevu and four fishermen were taken into custody while fishing there two days earlier.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has written to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi voicing concern at recurring instances of such arrests.