Coast guard nabs 5 Lankan fishermen for trespassing in Indian waters off Cape Comorin

MADURAI: Five Sri Lankan fishermen, detained by Indian Coast Guard on charges of trespassing and poaching in Indian waters off Cape Comorin coast, were brought to shore and handed over to marine police at Tharuvaikulam on Sunday. Indian Coast Guard Ship Shaurya, during a patrol, found the Sri Lankan fishing boat in Indian waters and rounded it up.
The fishing vessel had 270 kilograms of fish. The five-member-crew has been identified as Marcus Jude, Immanuvel Nixon, Antony Hemanishanthan, Duruvantha Srilal and Sudish Siyan from Neercolombo. The vessel and crew were brought to Tuticorin by ICGS Shaurya and were handed over to marine police SP Prathaban. The marine police took them to Taruvaikulam by sea while the Sri Lankan boat, during the voyage, ran aground. The boat was salvaged and brought to Tharuvaikulam by Sunday afternoon. Q Branch and intelligence wing sleuths carried out an investigation of the Sri Lankan fishermen.
During interrogation, the fishermen said that they got stranded in Indian waters due to inclement weather and heavy winds in the mid sea. The fishermen are to be produced before the Ramanathapuram Special Court on Monday morning. The fishermen will be taken to Puzhal prison after the court proceedings, said marine police sources.