Sri Lanka today said its Navy along with the Indian Navy is engaged in search operations to rescue two of the five crew members of ‘Wind Marine 8’, the island nation’s multi-day fishing vessel which was apprehended on December 9 by the Indian Coast Guard.<br/><br/>A statement by the Foreign Ministry said that the vessel was arrested on December 9 by the Indian Coast Guard, on suspicion of illegal fishing off the east coast of India and thereafter, some members of its crew were reported to have over-powered two Indian Coast Guard sailors who were stationed on board, in order to direct the ‘Wind Marine 8’ to an Indian port.<br/><br/> ‘This act of over-powering and holding hostage the Indian Coast Guard sailors which occurred in the general area approximately 180 nautical miles north of Chennai, led to a situation of Indian Naval vessels being deployed in the vicinity’, it said.<br/><br/>The Foreign Office said that subsequently, the two Indian sailors had been set free but unfortunately thereafter very adverse and cyclonic weather conditions developed in the area.<br/><br/> ‘The Sri Lanka Navy has also in the meantime sailed some of its vessels in that direction. The Sri Lanka Navy and the Indian Navy are now engaged in search operations, to rescue the crew of ‘Wind Marine 8’ from the serious difficulties the vessel appears to be encountering, due to rough seas and heavy winds.<br/><br/> ‘The Sri Lanka and the Indian authorities continue to be in close contact regarding the situation’, the statement said.<br/>