The Sri Lankan navy on Sunday arrested 14 Indian fishermen and seized 3 boats off Delft islands, near Jaffna Peninsula, on charges of poaching in Sri Lankan waters.

A group of fishermen of this island were on Sunday chased away by Sri Lankan Naval personnel while fishing in the Palk Strait, officials said.

The Sri Lankan Naval personnel chased away more than 20 fishermen who were fishing in midsea near the maritime borders, officials and a fishermen association functionary said.

President of Rameswaram Fishermen Organisation S Emiret claimed the fishermen were not aware whether the area was Indian or Sri Lankan territory.

As the Sri Lankan naval personnel asked them to move away, the fishermen panicked, cut off their fishing nets themselves and fled the scene, fisheries officials here said.

The officials said the fishermen lost fish and fishing net estimated to be Rs.10 lakh.