Srilanka, Feb. 2 -- Yet again, a group of Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu-this time 13 fishers-was arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on January 27 for encroaching into Sri Lankan territorial waters during the night. They were apprehended off the coast of Velvettithurai on the Jaffna Peninsula.

Following reports in the Indian media that the Sri Lankan Navy had fired on an Indian fishing vessel, a flurry of official exchanges between the two countries ensued, with the Indian Government lodging a strong protest over the incident. India expressed grave concern for the safety of its fishermen operating in Sri Lankan waters and called for a comprehensive investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the episode.

Not isolated inciden...