9 Lankan fishermen held in AP coast

CHENNAI: Indian Coast Guard has apprehended

nine Sri Lankan fishermen and their two fishing boats, which

posed 'high security risk for the coast', off Nizampattinam

in Andhra Pradesh.The fishermen, spotted by Coast Guard Ship ICGS Sarang

during a routine surveillance, were arrested on November 19

for allegedly violating certain sections of the Maritime Zones

of India Act of 1981, a Cost Guard release said here today.Fish catch of 3,500 kg was also confiscated, it said.The nine Sinhalese fishermen onboard the boats -- Gulf Star

Marina and Champa 6 -- were found 116 nautical miles off

Nizampattinam and were apprehended for violating sections

3/10, 7/14 and 15 (A & C) of the Maritime Zones of India Act.The boats, from Trincomalee of Sri Lanka, equipped with

GPS, radar and long-range high frequency communication

equipement "posed high security risk for the coast," it said.Since January this year, the Coast Guard Eastern region

has apprehended 31 boats, 153 Sri Lankan fishermen and

confiscated 29,550 kg of fish catch, it added.