The Sri Lankan Navy apprehended nine Indian fishermen and confiscated their fishing vessels on Tuesday, citing allegations of poaching in Sri Lankan waters. This brings the total number of Indian fishermen arrested by Sri Lanka this year to 261. The incident occurred off the coast of Delft islet in Jaffna.
Earlier this month, Sri Lanka expressed concern to India over the death of a Sri Lankan sailor during the seizure of an Indian trawler suspected of illegal fishing. The sailor sustained critical injuries due to the trawler’s resistance.
The issue of fishermen crossing maritime boundaries is a recurring point of tension between India and Sri Lanka. Both countries frequently arrest fishermen for accidentally entering each other’s waters in the Palk Strait, a vital fishing ground for both nations.
