RAMESWARAM: Nine fishermen from Rameswaram were arrested, and their trawler seized for allegedly poaching in Sri Lankan waters, the island nation's Navy has said.

More than 2,000 fishermen ventured into the sea from Rameswaram in over 400 mechanised boats on Wednesday. While they were fishing in the waters near Katchatheevu, the Sri Lankan Navy, which was on patrol, allegedly chased them away.

The Sri Lankan Navy also arrested nine fishermen who were aboard a mechanised boat owned by Prasanth of Rameswaram, alleging that they had crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line and were fishing in Sri Lankan waters. The arrested fishermen have been identified as Arul Loyola, Praveen, Vinoth Vin, Krithisan, Senthil Gayas, Devasagayam, Infant Prasad and two others. They were taken to the Mannar Naval Base late on Wednesday night.

The Mannar court on Thursday remanded all nine fishermen in judicial custody till August 6, following which they were lodged in Vavuniya prison.

Meanwhile, mechanised boat fishermen have also announced a three-day strike from Friday to Sunday, abstaining from fishing to press for the release of the fishermen and the boat.