Indian Coast Guard arrests 12 Sri Lankan fishermen

CHENNAI: Twelve Sri Lankan fishermen have been arrested and their two boats seized by Indian Coast Guard for allegedly fishing in the Indian waters of Bay of Bengal.

The fishermen were arrested and the boats - Dusantha and Maragala - seized for fishing in Indian waters without permission at about 105 nautical miles north east of Chennai yesterday, a Coast Guard release here said today.

The crew and the boats were handed over to the Chennai Harbour police. The Coast Guard also seized about 300 kgs of Tuna fish in the boats, it said. Coast Guard has apprehended 21 Sri Lankan fishing boats along wth 105 crew this year so far, the release said.