Cost Guard intercept four more Lankan boats

Chennai, Nov 4 : After arresting 19 Sri Lankan Fishermen in the last two days, Indian Coast Guard today intercepted four more boats and detained 20 Sri Lankan fishermen for fishing in Indian waters off Andhra Pradesh coast.

Informed sources said the Coast Guard intercepted the four boats while patrolling.

The boats and about 20 fishermen were being brought to the city to be handed over to Kasimedu police station tomorrow, the sources said, adding they would be formally arrested tomorrow.

On November 2 and 3, the Coast Guard intercepted four boats with 19 fishermen, who were arrested by the Kasimedu Police on being handed over to them by the Coast Guard. They were later remanded to judicial custody.

The Lankan fishermen had either strayed into Indian waters because of bad weather off north Sri Lanka or deliberately come entered the Indian waters off Andhra Pradesh, looking for tuna fish.

There has been a spurt in the number of Lanakn fishermen straying into Indian waters recently as they faced no restrictions.

Earlier, these fishermen restricted themselves to the Sri Lankan waters, because of the threat posed by the LTTE and restrictions imposed by the Sri Lankan Navy, the sources added.

--UNI

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