3 Sri Lankan fishermen land in Rameswaram, arrested

The fishermen identified as Devanesan (26), Arul Nesan (25) and Vaji (26) from Vavuniya and Thalaimannar set sail in their fibre boat on Saturday and while they were fishing near Katchatheevu they ran out of fuel. The fishermen were waiting for help mid sea, but a strong wind tossed the boat and washed them ashore in the sand dunes near Adam’s Bridge in Arichalmunai.

Local fishermen alerted the Marine Police about them. On getting information the police rushed to the spot and arrested them. A case was booked against the three for illegally fishing in Indian waters. Their fibre boat was seized and stationed at Arichalmunai. However, the police took the engine and eight nets used by them to the Mandapam Marine police station. 

A section of Rameswaram fishermen demanded that the three Sri Lankan fishermen be released. They said that local fishermen have also experienced such situations in the past and have accidentally entered the Sri Lankan waters on several occasions.