The Sri Lankan navy today arrested 14 Tamil Nadu fishermen near Jaffna Peninsula, on charges of poaching in Sri Lankan waters.

Fisheries Department Assistant Directors Gopinath and Sekar told PTI that the fishermen belonged to Rameswaram and Jagadapattinam in Pudukottai district.

They said three boats of the fishermen had also been seized by the navy personnel. The fishermen had been taken to Karai Nagar in Jaffna, they said.

The arrest comes days after five Indian fishermen on death row in Sri Lanka were released by the Sri Lankan government.

They were arrested in Sri Lankan waters in November 2011, on charges of drug trafficking.
(PTI)