The Sri Lankan navy arrested the 13 fishermen after they allegedly crossed the International Maritime Boundary and were fishing in the territorial waters of the island nation. The mechanized vessel the fishermen had used was also allegedly seized by the navy.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister of Puducherry N Rangasamy wrote to the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar requesting him to take appropriate steps on priority with the Government of Sri Lanka for the release of all the arrested fishermen, a release from office of the Chief Minister said.
Rangasamy stated in his letter that six fishermen from Karaikal (an enclave of Puducherry) and seven from Tamilnadu had been taken into custody by the Sri Lankan navy.