A group of 13 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and Karaikal on board a Karaikal fishing boat were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on Monday (January 27, 2025) night on charges of trespassing and fishing in the island nation’s waters.
The fishermen had ventured into the sea from the Karaikal fishing harbour in Puducherry on Sunday (January 26, 2025) morning.
They were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy mid-sea at around 9.30 p.m. on Monday. They were subsequently taken to the island nation for inquiry, according to reports.
Sources in the Fisheries Department in Karaikal said the arrested fishermen have been identified as K. Manikkavel (39), N. Dhinesh (30), R. Karthikesan (27), C. Senthamizh (27), R. Maivizhinathan (22), M. Vetrivel (28), from Karaikal district; V. Navendhu (34), K. Rajendran (36), R. Ramki (30), from Mayiladuthurai district; and P. Sasikumar (26), K. Nanthakumar (30), V. Babu (31), and M. Kumaran (28), from Nagapattinam district.
A section of the Sri Lankan media reported that two fishermen were injured during the arrest. This could not be confirmed, said officials of the Karaikal Fisheries Department.
