Navy arrests 11 Indian fishermen

Sri Lankan naval personnel today arrested 11 fishermen for fishing in Sri Lankan waters. The fishermen belonged to Kottaipattinam in Pudukottai district, according to Tirunageswaram, joint director of fisheries, Kottaipattinam.

The fishermen were taken to Kankensanthurai port by the navy personnel and produced before a local court, which remanded them to judicial custody.

The fishermen claimed that they were fishing in the traditional area, Tirunageswaram said.

With many instances of Tamil Nadu fishermen being arrested, chief minister Jayalalithaa had last week written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking immediate release of the fishermen.

Jayalalithaa had also renewed her plea for nullifying the "unconstitutional" Indo-Sri Lankan Agreements of 1974 and 1976 and demanded that steps be taken to restore the traditional rights of Indian fishermen. (PTI)