The Indian Coast Guard on Tuesday detained six Sri Lankan nationals on board a fishing boat in Indian waters.

According to an official release, the Indian Coast Guard Ship ‘Vishwast’ intercepted the boat off the Ramayapatnam coast.

The boat and crew were detained for violating the Maritime Zones of India Act, 1981.

The fishermen would be handed over to the local police.

The Coast Guard was maintaining continuous vigil along the eastern seaboard by deploying its ships and aircraft, the release said.

Asked about the frequent arrests in recent times, Inspector-General and Commander of Coast Guard (Region-East) S.P. Sharma said Sri Lankan fishermen went after tuna fish that was a migrating species.

“It keeps moving from the Arabian Sea towards Sri Lanka and then migrates to the Bay of Bengal…the fishermen go after the tuna fish and land up in the Indian waters,” he said. (Source: The Hindu)