In the early hours of Sunday, September 28, 2025, the Sri Lankan Navy arrested a group of twelve fishermen hailing from Karaikal, Nagapattinam, and Mayiladuthurai districts. They face accusations of poaching in Sri Lankan territorial waters, and their mechanized fishing boat was immediately seized.
Officials from the Fisheries Department in Karaikal confirmed that the fishermen had embarked on their journey from the Karaikal fishing harbour on September 25. The apprehension by the Sri Lankan Navy occurred around 2:40 a.m. while the group was actively engaged in fishing activities. The Sri Lankan Navy’s official communications stated that the arrests were made for “poaching” in the waters surrounding Delft Island, near Jaffna.
The Fisheries Department in Karaikal has released the identities of the arrested individuals:
- T. Vasanthan (39) from Akkampettai, Karaikal
- D. Selvam (44) from Kottucherrymedu, Karaikal
- D. Sundhar (27) from Kottucherrymedu, Karaikal
- D. Velmurugan (43) from Kottucherrymedu, Karaikal
- G. Kandhasamy (55) from Kottucherrymedu, Karaikal
- G. Balaguru (45) from Kottucherrymedu, Karaikal
- C. Vasanth (24) from Kilinjalmedu, Karaikal
- E. Kesavan (19) from Pattinacherry, Karaikal
- V. Srimurugan (22) from Pattinacherry, Karaikal
- T. Murugaiyan (45) from Pattinacherry, Karaikal
- R. Thulasinathan (30) from Keechankuppam, Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu
- G. Vaithi (35) from Kuttiyandiyur, Mayiladuthurai district, Tamil Nadu
Following their arrest, the fishermen and their confiscated vessel were transported to Kankesanthurai harbour in Sri Lanka. There, they were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Mailadi to initiate further legal proceedings.