Sri Lankan navy arrests nine Indian fishermen (Representative photo)

At least nine Indian fishermen on Thursday were arrested and their trawler seized by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly fishing illegally in the island nation’s waters.According to the Navy, the fishermen had crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line and were apprehended while fishing north of Talaimannar.The fishermen were apprehended on Wednesday evening during an operation after the Sri Lankan Navy detected more than 50 Indian fishing trawlers allegedly crossing into Sri Lankan waters south of Iranativu and engaging in illegal fishing, according to an official statement by the navy cited by PTI. The nine arrested fishermen and the seized trawler were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector in Mannar for further legal proceedings. The latest arrests come amid persistent tensions over the fishermen issue between India and Sri Lanka. According to Sri Lankan authorities, 128 Indian fishermen had been arrested and 18 trawlers seized for alleged poaching in the island nation’s waters as of April 15 this year.The fishermen issue remains a longstanding point of contention in bilateral ties, with the Sri Lankan Navy repeatedly detaining Indian fishermen and seizing their boats for allegedly crossing into its territorial waters. There have also been instances in which Sri Lankan naval personnel have opened fire on Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait.The Palk Strait, a narrow stretch of water separating Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka, is a rich fishing ground used by fishermen from both countries. Arrests are frequent as fishermen often inadvertently cross the International Maritime Boundary Line while fishing.