In a fresh incident, nine fishermen from Thangachimadam here in Ramanathapuram district, who had ventured into the sea for fishing, were arrested by Sri Lankan Navy personnel on charges of poaching on Saturday.

Fisheries department officials said that they had issued tokens to 339 mechanised trawlers.

On Saturday, the Sri Lankan Navy personnel who were on surveillance claimed that a mechanised trawler, in which there were nine fishermen, had indulged in poaching.

After interrogation at mid-sea, they detained the vessel and nine fishermen with the catch and proceeded to the Naval Port in the island nation.

As the news reached the coastal habitation here, the fishermen families were shocked.

The fishermen leader Jesu Raja said that the Union government should immediately prevail upon the Sri Lankan government and ensure that the fishermen were released forthwith.

The names of the arrested fishermen were given as Mathias (22), Mobis (21), Abisten (27), Antony Bruts (42), Episton (29), Steevenson (22), John Jason (24), Antony Pradeep (26) and Subartan (24). The boat owner’s name was given as Edin.