Sri Lankan Navy Arrests 32 Tamil Nadu Fishermen, Seizes Five Trawlers in Palk Strait

 In yet another maritime confrontation, the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 32 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and seized five of their trawlers along the Palk Strait on the night of Wednesday, March 20, 2024.

According to officials, the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department had issued 484 tokens to mechanized trawlers earlier that morning, allowing fishermen to venture into the sea. However, by 7 p.m., Sri Lankan naval personnel on surveillance duty reportedly detained 25 fishermen operating three trawlers near the Neduntheevu islet, citing alleged poaching. Following preliminary inquiries, they were taken to the nearest port in Mannar for further investigation.

In a separate incident later that night, another group of seven fishermen aboard two trawlers was also taken into custody while fishing in the Palk Strait. According to fishermen's leader P. Jesu Raja, these individuals were transported to Kankesanthurai Port for interrogation before being placed under judicial custody.

This marks at least the fifth such incident in March alone and the eighth this year, highlighting the persistent challenges faced by Tamil Nadu’s fishing community. Similar crackdowns were reported on March 16, when 21 fishermen from Rameswaram were arrested, and March 15, when 15 fishermen from Karaikal and Nagapattinam were detained.

Expressing concern over the recurring arrests, Mr. Jesu Raja urged the Indian government to engage in diplomatic discussions with Sri Lanka to resolve the crisis. “Our livelihood is at stake, and our families are the silent sufferers. While the men remain imprisoned in Sri Lanka, the women back home struggle to sustain their households,” he stated.

In response to the escalating situation, fishermen in Rameswaram have announced a protest on Tuesday, March 26, to demand immediate intervention from the Indian government. Meanwhile, with the annual 61-day fishing ban in the Palk Strait expected to be announced next month, concerns continue to mount over the economic strain on the affected fishing communities.