The Sri Lankan Navy reportedly detained 12 fishermen from Tamil Nadu on Tuesday morning.

The fresh detention comes just hours after eight fishermen from Akkarapettai in Nagapattinam district were arrested on Monday night.

The Indian fishermen were arrested following a clash with Lankan fishermen while fishing near Mullatheevu. The Lankan naval personnel have also seized their fishing boats.

The eight fishermen who were arrested on Monday night have been identified as 50-year-old K Anandan, 29-year-old G Ranganathan, 40-year-old K Lakshmanan, 27-year-old N Kannan, 28-year-old S Vinodh, 28-year-old T Chithravel, 35-year-old P Balamurugan, and 25-year-old K Saminathan, The Hindu reported.

In a separate incident on Monday night, the Lankan Navy arrested 15 fishermen for fishing near international maritime boundary line, according to All India Radio news.

The Tamil Nadu fishermen Nagai, Ramanathapuram and Pudukottai  have urged the government to realease the fishermen locked up in Lankan jails before Pongal festival on 15 January.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalaithaa had also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the issue with the Lankan government.

(IBT India)