Sri Lanka apprehends 24 more Indian fishermen

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, Feb 17, IRNA -- Sri Lankan Police has detained another 24 Indian fishermen, taking to 136 the total number of Tamil Nadu fishermen in their custody in the past two days.

The move could trigger fresh outrage in India.

A group of local Sri Lankan police arrested 112 Indian fishermen along with their seven boats on Tuesday and handed them over to the Ilawalai police in northern Jaffna peninsula, pti reported from Colombo.

The fishermen had allegedly strayed into Sri Lankan waters.

All the 112 fishermen were produced before a Point Pedro Magistrate court in Jaffna yesterday and remanded to judicial custody until February 28.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said on Wednesday that India would take a 'very serious view' of the Sri Lankan Navy apprehending Indian fishermen and would be taking up the matter with the Lankan government.

Singh said the Sri Lankan government has already been told in strong terms that such a behaviour was not acceptable.