Thirteen Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy early Tuesday morning for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). Their mechanised fishing boat was also seized. The arrested fishermen were taken to Jaffna in Sri Lanka, where they are expected to be questioned and presented before a judicial magistrate, reported IANS.

Two fishermen were reportedly injured in the navy’s gunfire during the arrest and are currently receiving treatment at the Teaching Hospital in Jaffna, as per a report on The New Indian Express. The arrested fishermen come from various locations in Tamil Nadu, including Mayiladuthurai and Nagapattinam districts. Two fishermen are from Pattinacherry of Karaikal, which is part of the union territory of Puducherry.

This arrest follows a similar incident just days earlier when the Sri Lankan Navy detained 33 Tamil Nadu fishermen for allegedly crossing the IMBL. In that case, three high-value mechanised boats were also seized. These fishermen, also from Rameswaram, were detained on January 26 in the early hours, according to Tamil Nadu Coastal Police authorities.

With this latest incident, the total number of Tamil Nadu fishermen detained by Sri Lankan authorities in the past three days has risen to 47. Additionally, three more high-value mechanised boats have been confiscated during this period.

The arrests have once again drawn attention to the ongoing struggles faced by Tamil Nadu’s fishing community, particularly in the Palk Bay region, where fishermen frequently face detentions. Fishermen’s associations across Tamil Nadu have condemned the arrests and highlighted the severe economic hardship and growing fear within the community.

Earlier, AIADMK chief and Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami questioned DMK government over handling of the issue. “The family members of the affected fishermen regret that the instances of arrest and impounding of boats have been increasing, and say the DMK government just writes letters to the Centre and moves on,” the former Chief Minister said in a post on ‘X.’

Therefore, he demanded Lok Sabha MPs to put pressure in the Parliament to end the arrest of TN fishermen.

ALSO READ: NIA Raids Over 15 Places In Tamil Nadu As Part Of ‘Radicalisation’ Probe