Delhi/Colombo, 3 November (H.S.): At least 35 Indian fishermen were arrested and four trawlers seized by the Sri Lankan Navy in an overnight operation that concluded early Monday. The arrests were made on charges of illegal fishing in Sri Lankan territorial waters.

According to Navy spokesman Commander Buddika Sampath, the operation took place near the Kankesanthurai area in the northern Jaffna district, a region that frequently witnesses tensions between Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen over maritime boundaries.

The detained fishermen and their trawlers have been taken into custody for violating maritime laws. The Navy said the arrested individuals and their equipment would be handed over to the fisheries inspectorate in northern Sri Lanka for further legal action.

Incidents of Indian fishermen being detained by the Sri Lankan Navy have been recurring, as both sides continue to face challenges in managing fishing rights in the Palk Bay region. Diplomatic efforts between New Delhi and Colombo are ongoing to find a sustainable solution to the issue.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar