Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu): The Sri Lankan Navy has detained 14 fishermen from the Pamban area in Tamil Nadu for allegedly fishing across the border and taken them to the Mannar Naval Base for questioning, according to the Rameswaram Fishermen Association. The fishermen, who are from Salalanga, were apprehended by Sri Lankan patrols while fishing in disputed waters.
Earlier, on February 27, 25 Indian fishermen who had been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) were released and returned to India, arriving at Chennai International Airport. These fishermen were detained on charges of crossing into Sri Lankan waters but were later freed.
On February 23, 32 Indian fishermen were also arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy, and their boats were seized. The fishermen, who had set out from Rameswaram in 440 boats to fish in the Palk Bay, were caught by Sri Lankan marines in the area. The fishermen were accused of fishing beyond the border, with five boats being seized by the Sri Lankan authorities.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin raised concerns over the rising number of arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy and called on the central government to set up a Joint Working Group (JWG) to address the issue. In a letter to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Stalin requested the formation of the JWG to ensure the safe release of the detained fishermen and their boats. He noted that the frequency of these arrests has increased, with 119 fishermen and 16 boats detained in eight separate incidents in 2025 alone.