India Seeks Consular Access To 34 Fishermen Detained By Bangladesh For Maritime Boundary Breach

India has requested consular access to 34 of its fishermen who were detained by Bangladeshi authorities this week for allegedly crossing the maritime boundary, according to HT report.

Represnantative image. (Photo: ANI)

India has requested consular access to 34 of its fishermen who were detained by Bangladeshi authorities this week for allegedly crossing the maritime boundary, ANI reported, citing sources.

Bangladeshi authorities detained 34 fishermen along with two fishing trawlers, FB Jhor and FB Ma Magal Chandi, close to Mongla port between July 14 and 15, on charges of allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line and fishing within Bangladesh’s territorial waters, as reported by HT. 

Following the incident, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka promptly raised the matter with the Bangladeshi authorities through diplomatic channels.

"As soon as information about the incident was received, our High Commission in Bangladesh took up the matter with Bangladeshi authorities through diplomatic channels seeking immediate consular access," ANI reported, citing sources.

People familiar with the matter told ANI that the Indian side is constantly pursuing the matter for facilitating the safe and early return of all the fishermen along with their boats.

Earlier on July 13 in Tamil Nadu, seven Indian fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly fishing across the maritime border between the two countries, Rameswaram Fishermen Association said.

As per the association, at around 5 am, the Sri Lankan Navy apprehended the crew of the fishing boat 'IND-TN-10-MM-746', belonging to V Isaac Paul of Rameswaram's Thangachimadam, on the charges of crossing the international maritime boundary.

The arrested fishermen, identified as P Tuthar (40) of Thangachimadam Raja Nagar, P Edison (51) of Thangachimadam Walasai Street, Shanmugam (50) of Rameswaram TSM Nagar, Sakthivel (47), Jagadish (48), Dalvin Raj (46), and Anbazhagan of Manthope, were taken to Kankesanthurai port in Sri Lanka for investigation.

According to the Rameswaram Fishermen Association, a total of 456 fishing boats had ventured into the sea on Saturday after obtaining permits from the Rameswaram fishing port.

In a third incident, four fishermen from Dhanushkodi in Tamil Nadu's Ramanathapuram district, whom the Sri Lankan Navy rescued after their boat capsized mid-sea, returned safely to their hometown.

According to officials, the incident took place on June 25, when the four fishermen - N Nambu Prakash (23), N Nambu Gunalan (25), K Nambu (24), and S Sathyaraj (24), all residents of Puthuroda in the Rameswaram island area - ventured out to fish in the Gulf of Mannar in a traditional country boat.