CHENNAI: In yet another instance of cross-border tension in the Palk Strait, 14 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy in the early hours of Monday for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and venturing into Sri Lankan waters.
According to sources, the fishermen had set out from Tharangambadi in Mayiladuthurai district on Saturday evening (November 8) aboard a mechanised fishing vessel registered from Vanagiri.
The crew, who had ventured into the high seas for routine fishing operations, reportedly encountered a mechanical snag mid-sea. In an effort to repair the fault, the vessel is believed to have drifted off course and entered Sri Lankan waters near Point Pedro.
Sri Lankan naval personnel, who were patrolling the area as part of a routine surveillance mission, intercepted the boat during the early hours of Monday. The 14-member crew was arrested and their vessel seized. They were later taken to Kankesanthurai Naval Base in northern Sri Lanka for questioning.