SLN arrests 22 Tamil Nadu fishermen in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 January 2009, 16:49 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) based in Oorkaavattu’rai (Kayts) Wednesday night rounded up 22 fishermen from Tamil Nadu said to be fishing in the seas of the islets of Jaffna, sources in Jaffna said. The fishermen were produced in Oorkaavattu’rai court Friday where Oorkaavattu’rai magistrate Ms. Joy Mahatheva directed the police to place them in custody in Jaffna Prison.

The boats, fishing nets and other equipments confiscated from the arrested fishermen continue to be held at Kaarainakar SLN base.

In earlier instances, Tamil Nadu fishermen detained in Jaffna Prison had been released with the intervention of the Indian Embassy in Sri Lanka, Jaffna Prison officials said.

At present there are no other Tamil Nadu fishermen detained in Jaffna Prison except the 22 fishermen brought on Friday, they further said.