Tension prevailed along the coastal districts after the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 47 fishermen from Tamil Nadu over the past two days for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) while fishing in the Palk Bay.
According to official sources, the arrests took place off the Talaimannar and Kankesanthurai coasts of northern Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Navy detained 30 fishermen yesterday and 17 more today, all of whom had set sail from Rameswaram and Pamban in Ramanathapuram district. The Navy also seized five mechanized boats belonging to them.
The incident has triggered outrage among the local fishing communities, who alleged that the Sri Lankan Navy continues to intimidate and detain Indian fishermen, even when they remain close to Indian waters.
Fishermen’s associations from Rameswaram, Thangachimadam, and Pudukottai have urged the Central and Tamil Nadu Governments to take immediate diplomatic steps to secure the release of the detained fishermen and prevent further arrests.
Community leaders have reiterated their demand for a permanent solution to the Palk Bay fishing conflict, which has persisted for decades and continues to endanger the livelihoods of Tamil Nadu’s coastal families.
