Five Rameswaram fishermen arrested by Lankan navy

In the second such incident in over two weeks, five fishermen from Rameswaram were on Thursday taken into custody by Sri Lankan naval force personnel when they were fishing near Katchatheevu, officials said.

Fisheries department officials said the Lankan navy chased fishermen and rounded up three boats.

Fishermen in two boats managed to escape but five fishermen in the third boat were taken into custody. The Lankan navy also seized their boat and took the fishermen to Sri Lanka, officials said.

On November 28, five fishermen were arrested by Sri Lankan naval personnel while fishing in mid-sea and lodged in a prison in Jaffna on charges of drug smuggling. A court in Sri Lanka had on December 5 extended their remand till December 19.