36 Sri Lankan fishermen shifted to Kakinada jail

Hyderabad, May 11 (IANS) Thirty-six Sri Lankan fishermen arrested off the Andhra Pradesh coast two days ago for intruding into Indian waters in the Bay of Bengal were Sunday shifted to the central jail in Kakinada.

The fishermen, arrested by the Indian Coast Guard near Machilipatnam in Krishna district, were presented in a court, and were subsequently lodged in Kakinada jail in East Godavari district.

According to marine police, the fishermen were arrested in Gilakaladindi village when they intruded into the Indian waters for fishing. The Coast Guard seized seven boats and four tonnes of tuna fish.

The Sri Lankan fishermen, majority of them in the age group of 30-40 years, were questioned by the Coast Guard before they were handed over to the marine police.

The questioning revealed that they had left their shore about 10 days ago.

Officials of the fisheries department said the seized tuna fish would be auctioned Monday.

According to marine police, Sri Lankan fishermen often trespass into Indian waters to catch tuna fish, which is in great demand in the island nation.