Fishermen under fire: sri lankan navy seizes 14 tamil nadu fishermen in Latest dispute

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): In a daring high-seas operation on Thursday, the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 14 fishermen from Rameswaram for allegedly poaching in Sri Lankan waters. The fishermen, who set out from the Rameswaram fishing jetty on Wednesday morning, were intercepted by the Sri Lankan Navy while fishing north of Mannar. Along with the fishermen, two Indian trawlers were seized in the operation. The Sri Lankan Navy’s Northern Naval Command launched the surprise raid, deploying fast attack craft and inshore patrol vessels to disperse the trespassing fishing boats. The fishermen were captured and the trawlers were seized in what the Navy called a "special operation" aimed at curbing illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters. The boats and their crew were then taken to Talaimanar Pier and handed over to local fisheries authorities for further legal action. This marks a significant escalation, as the Sri Lankan Navy has now apprehended 529 Indian fishermen and seized 68 boats this year alone for violating territorial waters. The ongoing tensions over fishing rights in the Palk Strait continue to strain relations between the two nations.