Nearly 53 Sri Lankan fishermen who had strayed into Indian waters off Chennai coast in the last two days have been arrested and ten boats seized from them, the police said.
According to police, 42 fishermen were arrested and eight boats recovered on Sunday, while 11 fishermen and two boats were detained on Monday night by the Coast Guard, following which they were handed over to the police and later lodged in the Puzhal jail near here.
Coast Guard officials said that the two boats were seized near the Pulicat Lake on the Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh border.
However, officials said Sri Lankan fishermen entered Indian waters with an aim to net tuna fish, which is most sought after for its nutritional value.
The fish is available off Chennai round the year and therefore the Lankan fishermen entered Indian waters to net them, they said.
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