3 months ago
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Sri Lankan Navy unit connected Thursday (February 19, 2026) arrested 22 fishermen from Rameswaram and Mandapam adjacent the Katchatheevu and Neduntheevu islets. They besides impounded 4 vessels.
According to preliminary reports, Fisheries Department officials received accusation that 18 fishermen were apprehended adjacent the Katchatheevu islet and 4 others adjacent the Neduntheevu islet. The 22 fishermen, on with their vessels, were taken to 2 antithetic naval ports successful Sri Lanka for interrogation.
It is said that the fishermen from Rameswaram and Mandapam ventured into the oversea connected Wednesday (February 18). They were expected to instrumentality to the shores connected Thursday noon.
However, portion they were engaged successful sportfishing adjacent the Katchatheevu and Neduntheevu islets, surveillance teams of the Sri Lankan Navy apprehended them astatine astir 3 a.m. and took them into custody for interrogation to Talaimannar and Karai Nagar naval ports.
As the quality reached their homes successful Tamil Nadu, determination was daze and anger. Their families condemned the incidental and demanded the contiguous merchandise of the fishermen and their vessels.
Meanwhile, fishermen associations successful Ramanathapuram territory are apt to convene an exigency gathering astatine 11 a.m. successful Thangachimadam.
With the yearly two-day festival astatine the renowned St. Antony’s Church successful Katchatheevu scheduled to beryllium held connected February 27 and 28, successful which implicit 3000 pilgrims from India are acceptable to participate, specified an incidental has anguished the sportfishing communities here.
