The Sri Lankan Navy arrested 24 Indian fishermen on Wednesday night for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line and engaging in illegal fishing off the north-western coast near Talaimannar. Four trawlers used by the fishermen were also seized. The arrests bring the total number of Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody to 93.
In addition to the 19 fishermen arrested near Talaimannar, five others were detained after their boat ran aground near Katchatheevu. U. Arulanandham, president of the Alliance for the Release of Innocent Fishermen, reported the incident from Rameswaram.