Amid regional maritime tensions, 34 Indian fishermen aboard FB Jhor and FB Chandi were detained by Bangladesh near Mongla for crossing the maritime boundary. India’s High Commission has initiated diplomatic talks for their release. This comes days after Sri Lanka arrested 7 Indian fishermen and rescued 4 from a capsized boat near Dhanushkodi
Representational Image. File Pic
Amid all the chaos that has been going on with the neighbouring countries, thirty-four Indian fishermen, along with two of their Indian fishing trawlers, have been apprehended by Bangladeshi authorities. The two fishing trawlers FB Jhor and FB MaMagalChandi have been apprehended by Bangladesh authorities near Mongla for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line and fishing in Bangladeshi territorial waters, sources said on Friday.
As reported by the news agency ANI, the incident took place on the intervening night of July 14-15. Sources have also confirmed that the matter was taken up with the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh as soon as information about the incident was received, as reported by ANI.
One of the sources also informed that, "As soon as information about the incident was received, our High Commission in Bangladesh took up the matter with Bangladeshi authorities through diplomatic channels seeking immediate consular access," as cited by ANI.
The sources further added that a constant effort is being made to facilitate the safe and early return of the fishermen along with their boats.
Earlier on July 13, the Sri Lankan Navy arrested seven Indian fishermen in Tamil Nadu for reportedly fishing across the two countries' maritime border, according to the Rameswaram Fishermen's Association, as per ANI.
According to the association, the incident happened around 5 a.m. when the Sri Lankan Navy apprehended the crew of the fishing boat 'IND-TN-10-MM-746.' The boat belonged to V. Isaac Paul of Rameswaram's Thangachimadam, who was apprehended on charges of crossing the international maritime boundary.
The arrested fishermen were identified as P Tuthar (40) of Thangachimadam Raja Nagar, P Edison (51) of Thangachimadam Walasai Street, Shanmugam (50) of Rameswaram TSM Nagar, Sakthivel (47), Jagadish (48), Dalvin Raj (46), and Anbazhagan of Manthope. After some time, the alleged fishermen were taken to Kankesanthurai port in Sri Lanka for investigation by the authorities.
As reported by ANI, a total of 456 fishing boats had ventured into the sea on Saturday after obtaining permits from the Rameswaram fishing port, according to the Rameswaram Fishermen Association.
In a third incident, four fishermen from Dhanushkodi in Tamil Nadu's Ramanathapuram district, whom the Sri Lankan Navy rescued after their boat capsized mid-sea, returned safely to their hometown.
According to officials, the incident took place on June 25, when the four fishermen—N Nambu Prakash (23), N Nambu Gunalan (25), K Nambu (24), and S Sathyaraj (24), all residents of Puthuroda in the Rameswaram island area—ventured out to fish in the Gulf of Mannar in a traditional country boat.
(With ANI Inputs)
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