PUDUKKOTTAI: A fisherman from Pudukkottai was assaulted by Lankan Navy personnel on Monday night alleging that the fisherfolk had crossed Indian waters.
Sources said about 1,300 fishermen from Kottaipattinam ventured into the sea in 325 mechanised fishing boats from Kottaipattinam jetty on Monday morning. Of them, a team of four members comprising Kumaravel(20), son of Subramani,Subramani (40), son of Chandran, Bala(20), son of Velu and Anjappan (45), son of Govindan went for deep sea fishing, 30 nautical miles away from Kottaipattinam port, during the late hours of Monday. While they were fishing, Sri Lanka navy personnel came to the spot in two boats and rounded them up.
The navy personnel jumped into their boat and assaulted Kumaravel with iron rod. The other fishermen managed to hide in the boat. The Lankan navy took away three mobile phones and GPS instruments and tore up the fishing nets. Further, they warned Kumaravel not to come to the area as it belongs to island nation.
Kumaravelu was given first aid by others as he swooned up due to the attack of Lankan navy. They then rushed to the shores and admitted him to a private hospital in Manamelkudi.