27 Indian fishermen held for alleged poaching in Sri Lanka's territorial waters
Colombo (PTI): Twenty-seven Indian fishermen were arrested for allegedly poaching in Sri Lanka's territorial waters, the island nation's Navy said on Sunday.
The fishermen were arrested off the coast of Mannar in the northeast and Delft and Kachchativu islets in the north on Saturday, it said.
The Sri Lankan Navy held two Indian trawlers that continued to remain in island waters off Mannar, with 15 Indian fishermen aboard while three Indian trawlers with 12 fishermen aboard were apprehended near the Delft and Kachchativu Islands, officials said.
The arrested fishermen were handed over to the authorities for further legal action, they said.
In September, 17 Indian fishermen were arrested off the coast of Jaffna's Kakarathivu island.
The fishermen issue is a contentious one in the ties between India and Sri Lanka, with the Lankan Navy personnel even firing at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seizing their boats in several alleged incidents of illegally entering Sri Lankan's territorial waters.
The Palk Strait, which is a narrow strip of water separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, is a rich fishing ground for fishermen from both countries.
There have been periodic instances of Indian fishermen being apprehended by Sri Lankan authorities for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line and fishing in Sri Lankan waters.
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Congress MLC Abdul Jabbar suspended from primary membership of party
Bengaluru: The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President DK Shivakumar has passed an order suspending Member of the Legislative Council Abdul Jabbar from the primary membership of the party.
Shivakumar, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, has stated in his order that the MLC is to be suspended with immediate effect.
Jabbar is said to have been suspended for his alleged anti-party activities during the by-election to the Davanagere South Assembly constituency.
