In one more occasion of cross-border rigidity within the Palk Strait, 14 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu have been apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy within the early hours of Monday for allegedly crossing the Worldwide Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and venturing into Sri Lankan waters.
In response to sources, the fishermen had set out from Tharangambadi within the Mayiladuthurai district on Saturday night (November 8) aboard a mechanised fishing vessel registered in Vanagiri.
The crew, who had ventured into the excessive seas for routine fishing operations, reportedly encountered a mechanical snag mid-sea. In an effort to restore the fault, the vessel is believed to have drifted off track and entered Sri Lankan waters close to Level Pedro.
Sri Lankan naval personnel, who have been patrolling the world as a part of a routine surveillance mission, intercepted the boat in the course of the early hours of Monday. The 14-member crew was arrested, and their vessel seized. They have been later taken to the Kankesanthurai Naval Base in northern Sri Lanka for questioning.
Fishermen’s associations in Mayiladuthurai and Nagapattinam expressed deep concern over the incident, urging each the Indian and Sri Lankan governments to make sure the early launch of the detained crew.
“These fishermen didn’t deliberately cross the boundary; the drift occurred on account of a mechanical failure,” mentioned Okay. Muthu, chief of the Tamil Nadu Mechanised Boat Fishermen’s Affiliation. He additionally appealed to the Indian authorities to interact in diplomatic talks with Colombo to safe their launch.
Incidents of Tamil Nadu fishermen being arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for alleged maritime boundary violations have been recurring, usually straining bilateral relations. Regardless of repeated discussions between each nations on establishing a everlasting decision to the fishing dispute, such arrests proceed to happen periodically, significantly throughout peak fishing seasons.
In the meantime, officers from the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Division have knowledgeable the Indian Excessive Fee in Colombo in regards to the detention. Efforts are reportedly underway to confirm the identities of the arrested fishermen and to coordinate with Sri Lankan authorities for his or her launch.
The state authorities is anticipated to submit an in depth report back to the Union Ministry of Exterior Affairs, looking for its intervention on humanitarian grounds.