Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai

Chennai, Nov 3: In a fresh escalation of the long-standing fishing rights dispute in the Palk Bay, the Sri Lankan Navy on Monday arrested 35 fishermen from Tamil Nadu for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and fishing in Sri Lankan territorial waters.

According to official sources, the arrests occurred in the early hours of Monday near northern Sri Lanka when naval patrol vessels intercepted three mechanised Indian boats operating close to the coast. The vessels, along with their fishing equipment and catch, were seized during the operation.

Of the detained fishermen, 31 are from Nagapattinam district, having set out from the Akkaraipettai and Thopputhurai harbours on Sunday evening. The remaining four fishermen belong

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