Rights group urges Centre to secure release of Karaikal fishermen from Sri Lanka’s custody

The Federation for People’s Rights has urged Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to immediately intervene and secure the release of 11 fishermen from Karaikal, an enclave of the Union Territory, who were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on charges of poaching in the island-nation’s territorial waters.

In a letter addressed to Mr. Jaishankar, the Secretary of the Federation G. Sugumaran said the fishermen were taken into custody while they were fishing southeast of Kodiyakarai on December 29, 2025. The arrested fishermen were taken to the Kankesanthurai port and remanded to judicial custody, he said.

The Sri Lankan Navy had also arrested nine fishermen from neighbouring Mayiladuthurai district and confiscated their boats. Around 73 fishermen from Tamil Nadu have been detained in Sri Lankan prisons, with their boats impounded.

The continued harassment of Tamil fishermen at the hands of the Sri Lankan authorities threatened to deprive the Karaikal fishermen community of livelihood rights, he said and urged the Union Government to take appropriate steps on priority and ensure the release of the arrested fishermen and their boats.