10 Tamil Nadu fishermen detained by British Navy near Diego Garcia
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Ten fishermen from Thothoor village in Tamil Nadu were reportedly detained by the British Navy near Diego Garcia Island in the central Indian Ocean.
The fishermen were allegedly arrested while fishing for tuna in the early hours of Monday, according to officials from the Tamil Nadu fisheries department.
The fishermen were accused of crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), marking yet another instance of international arrests involving Tamil Nadu's coastal communities. Sources revealed that the same fishing vessel used by the detained group had been previously seized twice for similar allegations.
The Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department has reported the incident to India’s Ministry of External Affairs for intervention.
This incident comes shortly after eight fishermen from Rameswaram and Thangachimadam in Tamil Nadu were detained by the Sri Lankan Navy on January 12. The Sri Lankan authorities also impounded two mechanized boats belonging to Mukesh Kumar of Rameswaram and Maria Retrisan of Thangachimadam, identified by registration numbers IND TN 10 MM 879 and IND TN 10 MM 159, respectively.
The Sri Lankan Navy accused the fishermen of crossing the IMBL and engaging in poaching near the Neduntheevu islet. The detained fishermen and their boats were taken to a Sri Lankan naval port for questioning.
Fishermen’s associations across Tamil Nadu have expressed outrage over these incidents. Antony John, a leader from Rameswaram, criticised the repeated arrests, highlighting the hardships faced by the fishing community.
He emphasised the unsafe conditions in the Palk Bay and the economic toll on fishermen due to the loss of livelihoods and confiscation of property by Sri Lankan authorities. “Since 2018, around 270 trawlers have been impounded, leaving many fishermen jobless and burdened with insurmountable debts,” he said.
Fishermen's leaders have urged the Union government to address these recurring issues and ensure the safety and security of Tamil Nadu’s fishing communities.