Sri Lankan navy detains seven Tamil Nadu fishers for alleged poaching near Katchatheevu

Seven Tamil Nadu fishers were taken into custody by Sri Lanka’s navy early Sunday for alleged poaching in waters between the Katchatheevu islet and Mannar North. The men, hailing from the coastal towns of Rameswaram and Thangachimadam in Ramanathapuram district, were intercepted around 1 a.m. and escorted, along with their trawler, to a naval base in Sri Lanka. On Saturday, the state fisheries department issued 398 fishing permits for the vessel, planning to bring the crew back by Sunday evening. The detained crew members are identified as Placius, 41; Alagu Pandi, 22; Antony Pitchai, 33; Rabin, 21; Nelson, 58; Arulananda Xavier, 65; and Sahaya Anand, 34. Fishery representatives condemned the action and called on both the Union and Tamil Nadu governments to secure their prompt release. An emergency gathering was held in Thangachimadam, chaired by local leader Jesu Raja, which demanded immediate federal intervention. The meeting also reproached fishers from Karaikal and Nagapattinam for crossing into the traditional Palk Strait zone, using high‑power engines and oversized trawlers that travelled over 100 nautical miles to reach Katchatheevu, damaging drying nets of Sri Lankan northern‑province fishers. Those incursions occurred between 26 and 30 October when bad weather halted permit issuance for the Ramanathapuram crew, prompting the Sri Lankan navy’s response, the resolution said. The assembly urged Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to act swiftly and stop further trespassing, warning that unchecked incursions could spark mid‑sea law‑and‑order issues. The fishermen said they would wait until after Deepavali on 8 November before meeting again to decide next steps.

Context

Katchatheevu, a small island in the Palk Strait, is traditionally used by Indian fishers but lies under Sri Lankan jurisdiction, leading to periodic disputes when boats cross the unofficial fishing boundary. Such incidents often trigger diplomatic pressure from both sides to prevent escalation.