SLN arrests Indian poachers in Mannar Sea

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 09 November 2004, 02:11 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy Tuesday early morning arrested 12 Indian fishermen when poaching in Mannar Sea area and took them into custody . THe fishermen were handed over to the Talaimannar Police for further action, Navy sources said.

The suspects are to be produced in Mannar Magistrate's Court later Tuesday.

The two Indian trawlers would be taken to Karainagar Navy Camp in the Jaffna district and would be kept in navy custody, police said.

The arrests came in after the assurance by the Sri Lanka navy officials at a conference held in Mannar Bishop's House Monday that they would put a stop to poaching in the territorial waters of Sri Lanka in Mannar coastal area within two weeks' period.

Mannar fishermen suspended their road blockade campaign demanding that the navy should take deterrent action against poaching in Mannar Sea, sources said.