Detained Indian fishermen to be produced in court

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 July 2003, 13:32 GMT]
Six Indian fishermen out of the twenty-six arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy in the Pesalai sea are to be produced in court by the ThalaiMannar police, and the remaining fishermen in the custody of the SLN will be handed over to the Indian Navy, police sources said.

In recent times, many Indian fishermen have trespassed into the Northern seas. Though many arrests have been made, the Indian fishermen continue to poach, affecting the livelihood of fishermen in the Pesalai, Mannar and Thalaimannar areas, sources said.

The Indian fishermen, who enter the Northern seas in big trawlers, damage the fishing nets and gear of the Sri Lankan fishermen and often rob them. Though the concerned officials have been notified of this poaching by Indian fishermen, the local fishermen complain that no constructive action has been taken so far.

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