New Delhi: Seventeen Tamil Nadu fishermen were on Tuesday arrested by Sri Lankan naval personnel, for allegedly fishing in Sri Lankan territorial waters, in the third such incident in as many days.

The fishermen from Nagapattinam, who set out for fishing in two mechanised boats, were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy off Neduntheevu, Nagapattinam Fisheries Joint Director Subburaj said.

The fishermen, along with their two mechanised boats, have been taken to Kangesanthurai in Sri Lanka.

On July 3, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to take steps to secure the release of five fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on the same day on charges of fishing in their territorial waters. On Monday, five more fishermen, who set out for fishing from Pamban in Ramanathapuram district, were arrested for allegedly trespassing into Sri Lankan territorial waters. –PTI