Five Sri Lankan fishermen were apprehended by the Indian Coast Guard after they were found fishing in Indian waters on Tuesday.

An official statement stated that the Indian Coast Guard ship Vaibhav, on its routine patrol in Gulf of Mannar apprehended one Sri Lankan fishing boat at 8.45am on Tuesday engaged in fishing on Indian waters.

There was a five-member Sri Lankan crew onboard and the boat named Asitha Putha (IMUL-A-0118CHW) was apprehended in position 58 nautical miles South East of Manappad point with approximately 300 kg of fish catch under Maritime Zone India (MZI) Act, 1981.

The apprehended boat has been escorted by ICGS Vaibhav to Tuticorin where they will be handed over to the police on Wednesday, the statement observed.

During last two months the coast guard had apprehended three Sri Lankan fishing boats with 15 crew members with approximately 855 kgs of fish catch, the coast guard sources said. The Indian coast guard has been maintaining continuous vigil all along the eastern seaboard with ships and aircraft are being regularly deployed for surveillance at sea and also to provide assistance to fishermen whilst in distress at sea, the official sources added.

Marine Police sources at Tuticorin said that the apprehended fishermen may reach the shore around 5.30 am and further details could be ascertained after the interrogation. (TNN)