The Sri Lankan Navy on Friday detained at least 15 Indian fishermen off the coast of Karanagar in the northern Jaffna peninsula. All the fishermen were accused of encroachment. The Sri Lankan Navy seized the boats of the fishermen at Kankesanturai port and sent all of them to the Directorate of Fisheries for investigation.
Recently Sri Lankan fishermen protested against the authorities to protect their rights from poaching by their Indian counterparts in Sri Lankan waters. Along with this, the Sri Lankan Navy has seized 16 boats so far this year and detained 225 Indian fishermen.
It is noteworthy that the issue of fishermen is a controversial issue between India and Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Navy also fired on Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait. Along with this, boats of fishermen illegally entering Sri Lankan territory were also confiscated. Last year, the Sri Lankan Navy had arrested 240 Indian fishermen and seized 35 of their boats.