Clash with Indian poachers: Sri Lanka Navy recovers two bodies

Sri Lanka Navy divers engaged in a ‘Search and Rescue’ operation on 20 January, recovered two corpses of fishermen from an Indian fishing trawler, allegedly poaching and sank northwest of the Delft Island after hitting a Navy gunboat.

The incident took place about eight nautical miles (15 km) within Sri Lanka’s International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) northwest of the Delft Island, resisting arrest in the fading light on 18 January. 

The mishap took place after the Navy units on patrol carried out an operation to seize Indian fishing trawlers poaching in Sri Lankan waters, by, ipso facto trespassing the IMBL, it said. After observing more than 50 such poaching trawlers, the Navy panned out their operation, where, one of the Indian fishing trawlers, with aggressive maneuvers resisted arrest, the Navy said. 

By attempting to evade the scene, it collided with a Navy craft in operation and sank after losing its stability.  In the dramatic collision that took place, that also caused damages to a Navy fast attack craft which was subsequently brought to Kankesanthurai Harbour safely for repairs.

Meanwhile, the bodies recovered on Wednesday(21),  were transferred ashore by a Navy craft. And the corpses will be handed over to relevant authorities for action thereof. The rescue operation continues to trace the possibility of other missing fishermen in the incident. 

(PA)