Sri Lanka Navy arrested 15 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and seized their two boats on Monday night for allegedly fishing in Lankan waters at Karainagar, 20 km from Jaffna.
The fishermen, who are from Akkaraipettai of Tamil Nadu's Nagapattinam town, have been taken to Kangesanthurai for inquiry, Joint director of Fisheries department Subburaj said, according to PTI.
In a separate incident on Monday night, the Lankan Navy allegedly chased away several Indian fishermen while they were fishing near Katchatheevu in the Palk Straits.
In the incident, fishing nets were cut, equipment of over 60 boats were damaged and thrown into the sea allegedly by the Naval personnel, fishermen organisation functionaries S Emerite and Sagayaraj said.
They further alleged that the Lankan Navy threatened the fishermen against fishing in the area. They claimed that one of the 638 boats, which were out fishing, sank during the incident. The occupants of the boat were, however, rescued by fellow fishermen.
