Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 17 Indian fishermen this evening on latest charges of poaching in Sri Lankan waters east of point Pedro. A statement issued by Sri Lankan Navy said the fishermen along with two fishing trawlers have been handed over to the officials of the Fisheries Department in Jaffna for further legal action. <br/><br/>The arrests have come as part of stepped up vigil by Sri Lankan navy in recent days. 6 Indian fishermen were arrested last evening while another five were arrested on Sunday evening. These latest arrests have taken up to 57 the number of Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody.<br/><br/>The incident comes even as Sri lanka is considering various options including grant of licensed fishing to Indian fishermen to break the stalemate. The country's Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi said that everything is under consideration but nothing had been finalised as of now.<br/><br/>The arrests have created tension in fishermen hamlets of Nagapattinam and Rameswaram. Local fishermen urge the central and state governments to secure the immediate release of 56 fellow fishermen apprehended by Sri Lanka. They also want the government to retrieve 98 boats detained by Lanka. <br/><br/>The fishing boats are kept unused and will get damaged over the time. The fishermen from Tamil Nadu say that their livelihood is affected as Sri Lankan Navy continues to attack them in their traditional fishing region.

Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 17 Indian fishermen this evening on latest charges of poaching in Sri Lankan waters east of point Pedro. A statement issued by Sri Lankan Navy said the fishermen along with two fishing trawlers have been handed over to the officials of the Fisheries Department in Jaffna for further legal action. <br/><br/>The arrests have come as part of stepped up vigil by Sri Lankan navy in recent days. 6 Indian fishermen were arrested last evening while another five were arrested on Sunday evening. These latest arrests have taken up to 57 the number of Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody.<br/><br/>The incident comes even as Sri lanka is considering various options including grant of licensed fishing to Indian fishermen to break the stalemate. The country's Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi said that everything is under consideration but nothing had been finalised as of now.