Chennai: Eleven Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested by Sri Lankan naval personnel while fishing near Neduntheevu, the northern region of the island nation.

The fishermen were detained last evening and taken to Kankesanthurai Port along with their two boats, police and the state’s Mechanised Boat Fishermen Association leader P Sesuraja said. The Sri Lankan naval men also chased away hundreds of other fishermen by allegedly pelting bottles and stones, and issuing warnings through the public address system, he said.

Around 3,500 fishermen in 634 boats had put out to sea from here last night. Voicing concerns over the latest arrests, Sesuraja said that nine fishermen, arrested earlier, were languishing in Lankan prisons, while 115 impounded boats were yet to be released.