The Sri Lankan Navy has continued its crackdown on alleged Indian fishing poachers, arresting 17 Indian fishermen and seizing their trawlers near Mannar on Sunday.
This brings the total number of Indian nationals apprehended by the island nation for such incidents this year to 413.
The fishermen were detained during a special operation conducted by the Sri Lankan Navy, which escorted them and their two trawlers to the Talaimannar Pier. The apprehended individuals will now be handed over to the Mannar Fisheries Inspector for further legal proceedings.
The ongoing fishing dispute between India and Sri Lanka has been a source of tension, with the Sri Lankan Navy frequently accusing Indian fishermen of illegally entering their territorial waters. This latest incident highlights the persistent friction between the two nations over the shared fishing grounds in the Palk Strait.