NAGAPATTINAM: Eight fishermen from Nagapattinam district were allegedly harassed and chased from mid-sea by Sri Lankan Navy on Tuesday.
The fishermen from Arkkattuthurai near Vedaranyam were reportedly fishing in waters southeast of Kodiyakkarai when they were allegedly intercepted by the Sri Lankan Navy who harassed them and chased them back. According to the fishers, they went to sea in two fibreglass boats. Four fishermen, Sakthibalan (20), Sakthidasan (20), Kathiravan (32) and Arun Kumar (20) were in the boat owned by Sasikumar. Another group of fishers, Arumugam (40), Thangavel (35), Suntharam (40) and Vedhaiyan (38) were in Arumugam’s boat.
They cast their nets and fishing southeast of Kodiyakkarai around 5 am. Suddenly, they were surrounded by Sri Lankan Navy patrol boats and were told they had entered Sri Lankan maritime territory. The navy personnel allegedly lashed the fishermen using cables and also damaged their nets. The fishers were issued a warning to go back or face dire consequences. The fishers reached Arkkattuthurai fishing jetty on Tuesday and lodged a complaint with the Coast Guard about the confrontation. The Coast Guard is investigating the incident.