Sri Lankan fishermen accused of attacking Indian fishermen near Delft island

Fishermen from Tamil Nadu have alleged that their Sri Lankan counterparts have attacked their boat when they were fishing near the Delft island off the Jaffna Peninsula.

The Lanka Page web site reported that a fisherman from a coastal hamlet in the Pudukkottai district suffered an eye injury when Sri Lankan Tamil fishermen in the North allegedly pelted stones at his mechanized boat at Nedunatheevu (Delft) for violating the International Maritime Boundary Line.

Two of his colleagues,however, escaped unhurt in the attack which took place late last night.

Assistant Director of Fisheries said that the injured was admitted to a private eye hospital.

Sri Lankan fishermen charge that their Indian counterparts poaching in the island's waters using destructive fishing methods rob their livelihood and destroy the marine resources.

Since 2015,21 fishermen from Pudukkottai district have been arrested by Sri Lankan naval personnel for allegedly fishing near the island nation's waters.