Chennai: Twelve Rameswaram-based fishermen along with two of their boats were apprehended by Srilankan Navy on Saturday, Rameswaram Fishermen's Association said in a statement. 

N Devadas, President, Rameswaram Fishermen's Association, said, "12 Rameswaram-based fishermen along with 2 of their boats were apprehended by Srilankan Navy on Saturday. While fishing between Kachchadivu and  Dhanushkodi at night, patrolling Srilankan Navy apprehended our fishermen".  

Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin wrote to the Priem Minister Narendra Modi over the arrest of 12 Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy. The chief minister demanded bilateral talks to stop "repeated instances of arrests and harassment" of fishermen. 

Stalin said this is the third such incident in two weeks and 41 fishermen and 6 boats are in the custody of the Sri Lankan Navy. 

Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin writes to the PM Narendra Modi over the arrest of 12 Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy; demands bilateral talks to stop "repeated instances of arrests & harassment" of fishermen pic.twitter.com/YjQNTlkvKx

— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2022

In 2017, 27 Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly fishing in their territorial waters. The fishermen from Jegadapattinam and Kottaipattinam in Pudukottai district were arrested off Neduntheevu by the Lankan Navy and taken to Kangesanthurai port there along with five boats.

The same year, a 22-year-old Indian fisherman was shot dead allegedly by the Sri Lankan navy while he was fishing in a mechanised boat at a short distance off the Katchatheevu islet.