Two Lankan fishing boats detained in India

CHENNAI: The Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Sarang apprehended two boats with 10 Sri Lankans for illegal fishing in Indian waters.

According to a CG release, on January 3, a Coast Guard Dornier aircraft during aerial surveillance, off the Tamil Nadu coast detected the presence of two Sri Lankan fishing boats within the Indian maritime boundary line.

The boats were engaged in fishing in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zones. ICGS Sarang, an advanced offshore patrol vessel on regular deployment, was directed to intercept and apprehend the boats.

Inquiries revealed that the boats Lahiru and Kavisha had sailed from the Trincomalee Port and were apprehended while fishing about 52 miles east of Nagapattinam on January 4. The boats had about 1,000 kgs of fish on board.

Both boats and its 10 crew members were taken to the Chennai Fishing Harbour (Kasimedu) and handed over to the police for further interrogation.

This was the first Sri Lankan fishing vessel to be apprehended by the Indian Coast Guard in 2011. One hundred and three boats were apprehended last year.

(Express News)