Twenty-six fishermen who were fishing off Kodiakari near here have been arrested by Sri Lanka, officials said on Saturday.

 

Officials said 17 fishermen from Nagapattinam in two boats and nine from Karaikal in another boat had ventured into the sea yesterday. When the fishermen were fishing off Kodiakarai last night, Sri Lankan Navy personnel arrived there and arrested them, they added.

 

The 17 fishermen belong to Akkaraipettai and Keechankuppam hamlets in Nagapattinam, Nagapattinam Joint Director of Fisheries Subburaj said.

 

The other nine hailed from Kilnjalmedu hamlet in Karaikal, Ilayaperumal, Deputy Director of Fisheries, Karaikal, said.

 

The fishermen along with their boats have been taken to Sri Lanka, officials added.

 

Sri Lankan officials have also confirmed the arrests, the Deputy Director said.

 

He said the fishermen might have drifted towards Sri Lankan territorial waters due to the rough seas. However, more details are awaited as to what exactly happened leading to the arrests, he added.

(Outlook)