Image used for representational purposes only
| Photo Credit: L. Balachandar
The Sri Lankan Navy on Saturday (August 9, 2025) arrested seven Indian fishermen from Rameswaram on charges of poaching in international waters.
According to sources, a mechanised boat owned by D. Irudhaya Dickson, with seven fishermen on board, ventured into the sea from the Rameswaram jetty on Saturday morning.
On charges of crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), a Sri Lankan Navy patrol boat stopped them for questioning. Subsequently, they arrested the seven fishermen, who have been identified as A. Dullas, 56, L. Silaidan, 26, J. Arul Robert, 53, S. Loilan, 45, K. Arockiya Sanrin, 20, A. Baskar, 45, and R. Jesu Rajan, 32, from Thangachimadam. Their boat was detained.
With this arrest, the number of fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy after the fishing ban period in Ramanathapuram district has gone up to 61.
Congress condemns arrest
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K. Selvaperunthagai condemned the mid-sea arrest of the fishermen.
In a statement, he recalled recent incidents of such arrests by the Sri Lankan Navy when the fishermen were fishing near the Katchatheevu island. He alleged that the Sri Lankan Navy was involved in assaulting the fishermen and apprehending their fishing vessels.
He said despite the State government urging the Centre to find a permanent solution to this issue, no meaningful steps were taken in this regard.
The Centre should immediately hold talks with the Sri Lankan government and also facilitate talks between the fishermen on either side to find a permanent solution and ensure the safety of Tamil Nadu fishermen, he demanded.
Published – August 09, 2025 05:10 pm IST
