Poaching in Sri Lankan waters:

Navy nabs 34 Indian fishermen

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

Navy

* Seized five Indian fishing vessels

* Fishermen handed over to Delft Police for legal action

* On Wednesday arrested 19 Indian fishermen

Navy personnel on Thursday arrested 34 fishermen from Tamil Nadu, India fishing in Sri Lankan waters near Kachchativu Island. The Navy seized their five fishing vessels as well.

Navy sources said personnel on a patrol craft attached to the Northern Naval Command arrested the 34 Indian fishermen along with five Indian trawlers engaged in illegal fishing in the Northern seas of Sri Lanka.

The fishermen were brought to Delft Island and handed over to Delft Police for legal action, the Navy said.

According to Indian authorities, these fishermen from Thangachimadam in Tamil Nadu accused the Navy personnel of attacking them with steel rods and ropes while they were fishing near Kachchativu.

The Navy denied the Indian media reports and their allegations. While rejecting the allegations, the Navy said Indian fishermen are making false allegations from time to time.

The Navy on Wednesday arrested 19 Indian fishermen and four Indian trawlers for illegally fishing in Sri Lankan waters north of Thalaimannar. The fishermen were handed over to the Thalaimannar Police for legal action.

Indian fishermen, specially from Tamil Nadu, illegally poaching in large scale with trawlers in Sri Lanka's waters, have become a serious threat to the livelihoods of Sri Lankan fishermen. They urge Sri Lankan authorities to prevent Indian fishermen from stealing Sri Lankan fish resources and their livelihood.