Overview

• The Northern Naval Command conducted the pre-dawn operation near Jaffna in coordination with the Sri Lanka Coast Guard.
• The group was intercepted around 2:40 a.m. on September 28 after departing Karaikal harbour on September 25.
• The arrested men are from Karaikal, Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai districts, according to the Karaikal Fisheries Department.
• The fishermen and their seized vessel were handed to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector, and they remain in Sri Lankan custody pending proceedings.
• Local fishing communities report rising unease, with recent cases seeing detainees produced before Mannar court and released after paying fines of 5 lakh Sri Lankan rupees each.