NAGAPATTINAM: A group of fishers from Nagapattinam who ventured into the sea in country crafts fitted with outboard motors have been attacked, in two incidents, allegedly by pirates from Sri Lanka. Four fishermen suffered injuries when they were attacked by pirates. They have been admitted in Vedaranyam hospital.
According to sources, four fishermen — G Senthil (46), K Jagan (36) of of Pudupettai fisherfolk, S Ramakrishnan (67) of Chavadi Kuppam near Tiruvenkadu and D Samuvel (35) of Chennai ventured into sea from Kodiyakarai coast on Monday in a country boat.
When they were fishing 13 nautical miles away from Kodiyakarai coast on Wednesday night, a three member gang on a SriLankan boat attacked them and took away two GPS equipment, two mobile phones, walkie talkie set, torch light and 50 kg of fish.
The four fishermen who were injured in the attack reached the Kodiayakari fishing jetty on Thursday morning and lodged a complaint with Vedaranyam Marine Police.
They were given first aid at Kodiyakarai PHC and then admitted to Vedaranyam Government Hospital.
In another incident, four fishermen from Seruthur fishing village, K Govindasamy, G Ramesh, V Vetri and G Ravi went to the sea on April 15. When they were fishing at a distance of 16 nautical miles off the coast of Kodiyakarai on Thursday morning, they were intercepted by a three member gang on a Sri Lankan boat. The gang reportedly took away one of the two outboard engines and 20 kg of fish after threatening them with a knife, sources said.
The fishermen returned to Kodiyakarai coast and filed a complaint with Vedaranyam Marine police. The fishermen were not injured in the incident, sources said.