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| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
In a fresh incident, 11 fishermen from Rameswaram, Pamban and Thangachimadam in Ramanathapuram district were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on charges of poaching in the early hours of Thursday (March 27, 2025).
According to Marine Police sources, the fishermen were engaged in fishing in the Palk Bay area and in the wee hours, the surveillance team of the Sri Lankan Navy detained the 11 fishermen and also took away the trawler.
The Fisheries department officials said they issued 454 tokens from Rameswaram jetty on Wednesday (March 26, 2025) and the fishermen were set to return on Thursday (March 27, 2025).
Speaking to The Hindu, Jesu Raja, a fishermen leader said they have been appealing to the Union government to arrange for talks with the fishermen leaders in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka and also with the officials of the island nation.
The arrested fishermen and the impounded trawlers, which were in good condition and lying in the Sri Lankan ports, should be immediately released.
Following representations made by the association leaders, the Tamil Nadu government had arranged for travel of a fishermen delegation to Sri Lanka to meet the jailed fishermen. They are likely to return on April 1, sources said.
Published – March 27, 2025 10:13 am IST