India hands over 34 fishermen to Sri Lanka’s navy

September 29th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Angered by what they called 'laxity' on part of the Central Government to intervene in the issue of attack on Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan army, the members of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) held a day-long hunger strike here on Tuesday, The protest comes close on the heels of a shocking incident in which 22 fishermen from the Nagercoil area of Tamil Nadu alleged that they were assaulted by the Sri Lankan navy in the sea. Despite its several attempts, the Tamil Nadu Government alleged that the Central Government has not done much to solve the problem.

August 4th, 2009 KOCHI - Chief of Indian Naval staff Admiral Sureesh Mehta has said that the navy was prepared to face any threat from the sea. Talking to reporters here on Monday, Mehta said, "Of course we are all well equipped.

April 16th, 2009 KARACHI - Twenty Indian fishermen who were arrested for allegedly fishing in Pakistani waters were Thursday jailed by a court here till April 28. The Indian fishermen were nabbed and their four boats - Poona Putra, Raj Mensi, Jal Ganga and Suneel Raj - were seized by the Maritime Security Agency on Monday, Geo TV reported.

April 5th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Indian fishermen inadvertently crossing over into Sri Lanka's territorial waters are sometimes subjected to harassment by the Sri Lankan Navy, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said here Sunday. He also said killing fishermen is not acceptable in any circumstances.

April 4th, 2009 CHENNAI - While the Sri Lankan Tamils' issue continues to be a hot topic in Tamil Nadu ahead of the parliamentary polls, efforts are on by authorities in the island nation and in India to solve the problem of fishermen trespassing into each other's territorial waters, sources said Saturday. Sri Lankan diplomatic sources indicated that 23 Indian Tamil fishermen who are being held in a prison in the island may be released very soon following representations by the Tamil Nadu government to free them quickly.

April 2nd, 2009 COLOMBO - At least 23 Indian fishermen have been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy off Thalaimannar island when they were illegally fishing in the nation's territorial waters, an official said Thursday. Acting Navy Spokesman Commander Mahesh Karunaratne said naval crafts on routine patrol arrested the group of 23 Indian fishermen along with six boats for illegally intruding into Sri Lanka's international maritime borders.

March 25th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Seventy four Indian fishermen were arrested after they strayed into Pakistani territory, authorities said Wednesday. Pakistan's Maritime Security Agency arrested 74 Indian fishermen in the southern port city of Karachi and confiscated 13 boats for violating sea territorial limits, Dawn TV channel quoted a MSA spokesman as saying.

February 21st, 2009 COLOMBO - At least 10 Indian fishermen have been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy, a naval official said Friday. The fishermen were arrested off the island's north-western coast of Thalaimannar.

February 19th, 2009 COLOMBO - At least 10 Indian fishermen have been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy, a naval official said Friday. The fishermen were arrested off the island's north-western coast of Thalaimannar.

February 5th, 2009 KARACHI - Fifty Indian fishermen have been arrested for encroaching into Pakistani waters, an official said. The maritime security agency officials arrested 50 Indian fishermen and took nine fishing-boats under control, Geo News reported Friday.

February 5th, 2009 RAMESHWARAM - Indian and Sri Lankan authorities Friday handed over to each other more than 20 fishermen who had strayed into their waters, the police said. While 22 Indian fishermen were handed over to coast guard officials earlier in the day, 21 liberated Sri Lankan fishermen are on their way home, police sources added.

January 22nd, 2009 COLOMBO - Sri Lankan Navy has arrested at least 22 Indian fishermen with six boats while fishing illegally in Sri Lanka's northern sea waters off Kankesanthurai (KKS), official sources said here Friday. The sources told IANS that the Sri Lankan Navy has arrested these Indian fishermen trespassing into the Sri Lankan territorial waters late Thursday and handed them over to the KKS police for investigation.

January 18th, 2009 BHUJ - Seventeen Pakistani fishermen have been awaiting interrogation in this Gujarat city after they were caught for entering Indian waters at the Kori Creek last week. The fishermen, caught Thursday from the Kori Creek by the Coast Guard, are in the custody of the Narayan Sarovar Police Station and the police of the border district of Kutch have already interrogated them, police sources said Monday.

January 12th, 2009 PANAJI - A fishermen's body has accused Coast Guard and Indian Navy officials of harassing and assaulting fishermen working on trawlers in the Arabian Sea. The Coast Guard Tuesday denied the charge.

January 8th, 2009 RAMESHWARAM - Some Indian fishermen have alleged they were beaten up by Sri Lankan Navy personnel near the Kachchatheevu island in the early hours of Friday but there has been no official confirmation of the attack. 'We were fishing around Kachchatheevu island and the Lankan Navy suddenly surrounded us and beat us up.