Tamil Nadu fisherman injured in mid-sea attack by SL Navy

Verghese, 45, one of the fishermen who was on a boat retreating towards the shore after the Island-Navy allegedly chased and harassed them for crossing the International maritime boundary line, was hit by a an iron ball and suffered injuries on his head.

On Saturday, about 688 boats put out to sea from here for fishing and this incident happened even as the Rameswaram fishermen were fishing on the Indian side of the area close to Katchatheevu island, sources said.

A group of fishermen from Tamil Nadu in 30 boats were then warned by Sri Lankan Navy personnel, chased and stones and other objects were hurled to dissuade them from fishing. Their nets were also cut in the course of the attack that took place between Katchatheevu and Kakkadatheevu, reports said.

Even as the helpless Rameswaram fishermen tried to pick up their severed nets and return to the shore with a much less fish catch than usual, some of the fishermen brought Varghese to the shore safely and admitted him to the Government hospital in Ramesawaram. The group of fishermen in 30 boats who were thus harassed by the Sri Lankan Navy also suffered some damage to their vessels.

“Along with damage to our nets, each of the affected boat has suffered a loss upto Rs 1 lakh,” one of the fisherman said, and urged both the State and Central governments to take immediate steps to create conducive conditions for them to carry on their fishing in the traditional areas off the coast here.