In yet another fresh incident, the Sri Lankan Navy personnel arrested 22 fishermen from Pamban and Thangachimadam in Ramanathapuram district on charges of poaching and impounded two country boats, on Saturday.
According to official sources in the Fisheries Department, the Sri Lankan Navy personnel had detained the fishermen under charges of poaching into their waters. It is said that the country boat fishermen were allegedly fishing at Parithithurai, which falls under Sri Lankan waters.
Denying it, fishermen leader Rayappan, who is also the president of country boat fishermen association, told media persons that the Sri Lankan Navy had been arresting mechanised boat fishermen. Now, even the country boats, which cannot go beyond five or 10 nautical miles, were also being held.
