The thirteen Indian fishermen who were arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy yesterday for illegally entering Sri Lankan waters in the seas off Kankesanthurai have been remanded.
The Mallakam Magistrate’s Court remanded the fishermen until 10 February 2025, while two of the fishermen, who had sustained injuries, are receiving treatment at the Jaffna Hospital.
The two Indian fishermen had been injured when the group of fishermen had attempted to seize the firearm of a Navy officer who was compelled to conduct noncompliance boarding to seize their vessel.
Issuing a statement, the Sri Lanka Navy said the Northern Naval Command observed a cluster of Indian fishing boats poaching in Sri Lankan waters off Valvettithurai in Jaffna on Monday night.
Subsequently, the Northern Naval Command mounted a special operation to send away those fishing boats from the island waters, deploying naval craft.
During this operation, the Navy seized an Indian fishing boat that had continued to remain in Sri Lankan waters, while engaging in illegal fishing activities, leading to the apprehension of 13 Indian fishermen onboard the vessel.
The Sri Lanka Navy boarding team was compelled to conduct noncompliance boarding as the Indian fishing boat continued to manoeuvre aggressively, without complying with the Navy’s lawful orders.
However, while boarding the fishing boat, the Indian fishermen attempted to assault naval personnel and attempted to snatch a firearm from a naval officer, during which an accidental fire took place, causing minor injuries to two Indian fishermen.
The fishermen were taken into custody and handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for legal action.
India unequivocally criticised the incident, with its Ministry of External Affairs summoning the Sri Lankan acting high commissioner in New Delhi and conveying displeasure over the firing.
Reiterating India’s long-standing policy, the ministry said there’s a “need to treat issues pertaining to fishermen in a humane and humanitarian manner, keeping in mind livelihood concerns”. (Newswire)