Mar 14, Colombo: Sri Lankan Navy personnel today arrested 34 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and seized 5 boats for fishing in Sri Lankan waters near the Katchatheevu Island.

The Navy said its patrol craft attached to the Northern Naval Command arrested the 34 Indian fishermen along with 5 Indian trawlers engaged in illegal fishing in the Northern seas of Sri Lanka on Thursday March 14th.

The fishermen were brought to Delft Island and handed over to Delft Police for legal action, the Navy said.

According to an Indian fishery official, the fishermen from Thangachimadam in Tamil Nadu have accused the Sri Lankan Navy personnel of attacking them with steel rods and ropes while they were fishing near Katchatheevu.

The alleged attack has injured about 20 fishermen and they have reportedly received treatment at the hospital.

Sri Lanka Navy Wednesday arrested 19 Indian fishermen and seized their 4 trawlers for illegally fishing in the Sri Lankan waters north of Thalaimannar. The fishermen have been handed over to the Thalaimannar Police for legal action.

Indian fishermen, mainly from Tamil Nadu, illegally poaching in large scale with trawlers in Sri Lanka's waters, have become a serious threat to the livelihoods of Sri Lankan fishermen and they have urged the Sri Lankan authorities to prevent the Indian fishermen from stealing their livelihood.

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