The Sri Lankan Navy has taken into custody 23 Indian fishermen hailing from Mandapam and Rameswaram areas when they were fishing in mid sea, a senior official said on Tuesday.

Assistant Director of Fisheries Markandeyan said that the reason for the detainment, which took place around 11 pm on Monday night, was not known.

The Sri Lankan Navy has also taken their five boats into custody. Authorities came to know about the incident from a fisherman who managed to escape with his boat from the Lankan naval men, he said.

Nandhini Dhinani, collector of Mannar district in Sri Lanka, said that five boats have been detained at the Mannar navy camp.

Four fishermen from Tamil Nadu, who were detained for intruding into Lankan waters, were released on June 16.