- KR Bharat
- 2025-12-23
The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 12 fishermen from Tamil Nadu for allegedly crossing maritime boundaries near the Palk Strait, once again bringing focus to the long-standing issues faced by Indian fishing communities in the region.
According to the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department, the fishermen are from Rameswaram and Thangachimadam in Ramanathapuram district. They were reportedly fishing in the waters between Dhanushkodi and Talaimannar when a Sri Lankan naval surveillance unit intercepted them. The fishermen, along with their mechanised trawler, were escorted to a Sri Lankan naval port for further legal proceedings.
The fishermen have been accused of illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters—an allegation frequently disputed by Indian fishermen, who cite the narrow and contested nature of the maritime boundary in the Palk Strait. The incident has renewed demands for swift diplomatic intervention to secure their release.
