Seventeen Tamil Nadu fishermen were today arrested by Sri Lankan naval personnel, for allegedly fishing in Lankan territorial waters, in the third such incident in as many days.
The fishermen from Nagapattinam, who set out for fishing in two mechanised boats, were arrested by Lankan personnel off Neduntheevu, Nagapattinam Fisheries Joint Director Subburaj said.
The fishermen along with their two mechanised boats have been taken to Kangesanthurai in Sri Lanka.
On July 3, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to take steps to secure the release of five fishermen arrested by the Lankan navy on the same day on charges of fishing in their territorial waters.
Yesterday, five more fishermen, who set out for fishing from Pamban in Ramanathapuram district, were arrested for allegedly trespassing into Lankan territorial waters.
(REOPEN MDS1)
Meanwhile, fisherman from Rameshwaram decided to indefinitely boycott fishing activities from March 7 in protest against the continued arrests of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan navalmen.
The Fishermen Association president N J Bose said they also decided to boycott the St Anthony's church festival at Katchathivu islet, to be held in mid march.
He said the Fisherman also sought support of students to block trains and vehicular traffic at Pamban, as part of the protest.
