29 Tamil Nadu fishermen detained by Sri Lankan navy

RAMESWARAM: Twenty nine fishermen from Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu were today detained by Sri Lankan naval personnel when they were fishing off Trincomallee coast in Sri Lanka, a fisheries department official said.

The navalmen also took their three boats along with them, according to information reaching Joint Director of Fisheries Department, Subburaj.

He said that the fishermen from Akkaraipettai in Nagapattinam district, along with their boats, had been taken to an army camp in Trincomallee, adding, they have been detained there.

On December 23, fishing nets of a group of fishermen from Rameswaram were allegedly cut by Lankan navy personnel when they were fishing near Katchatheevu and four fishermen were taken into custody while fishing there two days earlier.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi voicing concern at recurring instances of such arrests.