The Mallakam Magistrate’s Court has ordered the remand of 11 Indian fishermen until February 10, following their arrest for allegedly fishing in Sri Lankan territorial waters without permission.
The group was produced before the court last night (January 28) after the Sri Lankan Navy apprehended 13 Indian fishermen and their fishing vessel in the Kankesanthurai sea area on January 27. The Navy claimed the fishermen had entered Sri Lankan waters illegally while on a fishing tour.
During the arrest operation, a scuffle broke out between an Indian fisherman and a naval officer, during which the officer’s service firearm discharged accidentally, resulting in two fishermen sustaining leg injuries. The injured were immediately taken to Jaffna General Hospital for treatment.
Following the incident, officials from the Indian Consulate General in Jaffna visited the injured fishermen at the hospital. The remaining 11 fishermen were remanded and are currently in custody.
The Indian government has strongly protested the incident, summoning Sri Lanka’s Acting High Commissioner in New Delhi to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. India has demanded an explanation and urged Sri Lanka to handle such incidents in a humanitarian manner, considering the livelihood concerns of fishermen.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has also issued a statement condemning the use of force under any circumstances and emphasized the need for both governments to adhere to existing diplomatic agreements on cross-border fishing disputes.
The incident has sparked renewed tensions between Sri Lanka and India, with Indian media highlighting concerns over the treatment of Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters.
