(COLOMBO) – A group of 25 Indian poachers were arrested after a brief clash with a Sri Lankan navy patrol on the high seas in the island-nation’s northern maritime boundary, a senior official said on Tuesday.
The group was arrested long hours after dusk after a brief skirmish where the Indian poachers are reported to have thrown boiling hot water at the Sri Lankan naval personnel, he said.
The official added that no injuries were reported among the naval personnel in the incident while the patrol craft were able to chase away dozens of other boats manned by Indian poachers.
With the recent most detention the total number of Indian poachers arrested by the Sri Lankan navy rose to 220 for this year alone.
Some 33 fishing trawlers have also been seized from the Indians during this same period.
The poaching by Indian fishermen has remained a festering issue for both Colombo and Delhi for more than a decade but despite several diplomatic efforts from both sides to find a solution to the crisis the illegal and unregulated fishing by foreigners continue in the island-nation‘s territorial waters.
The bulk of the Indian poachers are subsequently released after an appearance before a local Magistrate.
The boats are however detained and subsequently auctioned by the Sri Lankan authorities.
