As many as six Indian fishermen and one boat were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy at Gulf of Mannar in early morning hours today.

The apprehended fishermen have been taken to the Mannar Naval Camp. As reported, the fishermen were arrested at around 4 a.m.

Earlier on June 5, the Sri Lankan Navy had apprehended four Indian fishermen and one boat were apprehended at Neduntheevu.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa had earlier written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to help release the four Indian fishermen, who were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy earlier on Thursday.

There have been several alleged incidents of Sri Lankan Navy personnel firing on Indian fishermen fishing in the Palk Strait, where New Delhi and Colombo are separated by only 12 nautical miles.

The Sri Lankan Government wants India to ban use of mechanized trawlers in the Palk Strait region and negotiations on the same are going on.

The Indian Government has always taken up the issue of safety of Indian fishermen on a priority basis with the Sri Lankan Government.

(ANI)