From correspondents in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 05:00 PM IST

At least 12 Indian fishermen have been detained for trespassing into the Sri Lankan territory, officials said Sunday.

A flotilla of six Indian fishing boats with more than 60 fishermen onboard was detained by the Sri Lankan Navy, eight nautical miles off the coast of Thalawila Friday, D.K.P. Dassanayake, a navy spokesman, said Sunday.

After initial investigations, two boats with 50 people were released. They will be handed over to the Indian Coast Guard, Dassanayake said.

However, twelve Indian fishermen will be produced before the court to face the legal process. Four boats were also seized from them, he said.

They were handed over to the police at Kalptitiya, 165 km northwest of Colombo.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)