Sri Lankan Navy Detains 10 Tamil Nadu Fishermen Off Katchatheevu, Seizes Mechanised Trawler

Ten fishermen from Tamil Nadu were taken into custody by the Sri Lankan Navy off Katchatheevu late on Wednesday night for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line. The mechanised trawler, which had set sail from Rameswaram with valid official tokens, was escorted to the Talaimannar naval base, sparking fresh anger across coastal fishing communities.

The mechanised boat, owned by Wellington of Thangachimadam, was among 297 trawlers that had sailed from the Rameswaram fishing jetty earlier in the day with official clearance tokens from the Fisheries Department.

Night-time Interception in Palk Bay

A Sri Lankan Navy surveillance craft intercepted the vessel during routine patrols near the disputed islet. Naval personnel boarded the boat and detained the crew after a brief preliminary inquiry at sea.

The arrested fishermen have been identified as Janathan (45), Antony Pitchai (38), Prabhu (43), Don Bosco (55), Arockia Devin (31), Veluchamy (51), Subbiah (52), Arockia Jeniston (25), and Stevin (30), along with one other unidentified crew member. The men hail from Rameswaram, Pamban, Thangachimadam, and Virudhunagar.

Fisheries Department officials confirmed that the seized trawler and its crew were escorted to the Talaimannar naval base for interrogation, ahead of a scheduled court appearance in Sri Lanka on Thursday.

Escalating Tensions Along the Maritime Border

The latest mid-sea arrest comes just five days after nine Rameswaram fishermen were apprehended near Neduntheevu when their boat suffered engine failure. That detention had prompted a day-long strike by local fishing unions across Ramanathapuram district.

Repeated seizures of expensive mechanised trawlers have crippled the coastal economy, leaving families facing severe financial distress as confiscated vessels are rarely returned in usable condition.

Anger Mounts Over Diplomatic Inertia

Local fishing leaders have voiced sharp criticism over the lack of a long-term resolution to the conflict in the Palk Strait.

Rameswaram Fishermen’s Association leader Jesu Raja accused both the Union and Tamil Nadu governments of remaining passive observers despite continuous appeals for high-level diplomatic talks. He warned that without decisive intervention to establish clear fishing rights, local communities would face complete economic ruin.

District fishing bodies have demanded immediate diplomatic moves to secure the safe release of all 19 detained fishermen and their confiscated trawlers currently in Sri Lankan custody.