In the first attack after the change of guard in Sri Lanka, five fishermen from the district were allegedly assaulted and chased away by the Sri Lankan navy personnel after snatching away their catch and nets in the sea off Kodiyakkarai coast on Tuesday.
The five fishermen, identified as Balachandiran (48), Selvamani (46), Ajith (18), Selvanathan (37), and Singaravel (37) all from Nambiyar Nagar hamlet near Nagapattinam town, ventured into the sea in a Fibre Reinforced Plastic (FRP) boat of one Balanchandiran as part of their routine on Monday.
During the wee hours of Tuesday, while the fishermen were netting in the sea south east off Kodiyakkarai coast a Lankan navy vessel arrived at the spot and allegedly hit them with sticks and ropes. Later, the navy men snatched the nets and the catch before chasing the fishermen away. On Tuesday morning, the five fishermen, who suffered minor injuries, reached the Kodiyakkarai shores. They were admitted as outpatients at the Vedaranyam GH and were discharged after treatment.
Meanwhile, the Indian Coast Guard personnel attached with Karaikal station have apprehended a total of six Sri Lankan fishermen along their vessel on charge s of trespassing and poaching in Indian waters on Tuesday. The six fishermen were reportedly picked by the Coast Guard 100 miles east of Nagapattinam coast. All of them were being brought to the shore. Later, they would be handed over to the CSG personnel in Nagapattinam.
2014, The New Indian Express