Seven Rameswaram fishermen detained by Sri Lankan Navy near Katchatheevu islet

In a fresh incident, seven fishermen from Rameswaram and Thangachimadam in the Ramanathapuram district were arrested on charges of poaching in international waters by Sri Lankan Navy personnel in the early hours of Sunday (November 1, 2026).

According to Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department officials, Sri Lankan Navy personnel apprehended seven fishermen who were fishing between the Katchatheevu islet and Mannar North at around 1 a.m. on Sunday (November 1, 2026). They were taken, along with the trawler, to a naval port in the island nation.

Fisheries Department officials issued 398 tokens on Saturday (October 31, 2026), and the fishermen were scheduled to return to the shores on Sunday evening (November 1, 2026). Seven of them were detained.

Officials gave the names of the seven fishermen as Placius (41), Alagu Pandi (22), Antony Pitchai (33), Rabin (21), Nelson (58), Arulananda Xavier (65) and Sahaya Anand (34).

Fishermen leaders have condemned the incident and urged the governments to get them released at the earliest.

“We will convene a meeting of all fishermen associations in the coastal district and decide the next course of action,” the fishermen leader said, adding that with the Deepavali festival around, such an incident has come as a rude shock.