11 Indian fishermen held by Sri Lankan Navy over alleged poaching near Neduntheevu
Eleven fishermen from Tamil Nadu and Kerala were detained by the Sri Lankan Navy in the early hours of Thursday near the Neduntheevu islet on suspicion of poaching, according to officials from the Fisheries Department.
The fishermen, hailing from Rameswaram, Pamban, Thangachimadam, and one from Kerala, were travelling in a fibre boat owned by a person named Ramesh. The vessel, reportedly an unregistered trawler, developed a technical snag and drifted towards the Neduntheevu islet, where the Sri Lankan Navy surveillance team intercepted them.
The detained fishermen were taken to a naval port in Sri Lanka, the officials confirmed. The incident occurred amid ongoing concerns over the safety and livelihood of Indian fishermen operating in the region.
Fishermen’s association leader Jesu Raja said that around 50 fibre boats are operating in the coastal district. He explained that many fishermen have upgraded their vessels by replacing steel bodies with fibre material, but officials have not updated the registration records. “It is the same boat, but the officials are not accepting this and have not issued registration numbers to the trawler,” he said.
Raja noted that when unregistered trawlers are caught on poaching charges, the legal complications increase and securing bail becomes more difficult. He said these arrests add to the hardships of fishermen who are already struggling for their livelihoods and seeking assistance from the Tamil Nadu government and the Centre.
The association leader appealed to the Tamil Nadu government to register the modified boats and provide registration numbers. He urged authorities to work for the safe return of the fishermen and the trawler from Sri Lanka.
Fisheries Department officials identified one of the detained fishermen as Rohan (35), a resident of Kerala. The department has not yet provided further details about the other ten individuals.
This incident highlights the recurring issue of Indian fishermen being detained by Sri Lankan authorities, often due to jurisdictional disputes and the use of unregistered vessels. Fishermen’s groups have repeatedly called for diplomatic intervention and streamlined registration processes to prevent such situations.
The Tamil Nadu government has not yet issued an official statement regarding the detention. However, leaders from the fishing community have urged both state and central authorities to take immediate steps to secure the release of the fishermen.
