7 Tamil Nadu fishermen injured in mid-sea attack

Seven fishermen from here have been injured in a mid-sea attack allegedly by sea pirates suspected to be from Sri Lanka, police said today.
Two of them sustained severe head injuries and have been admitted to the Government Hospital here, they said.
The fishermen from Nambiyar were fishing a few knots South East off Kodiakarai when they were attacked on Friday night by assailants who came in a fast craft, police said quoting a complaint lodged by the victims.
Five persons who were onboard the boat which appeared to be from Sri Lanka jumped onto the boat of the fishermen and attacked them with wooden logs. They then snatched all valuables, including the fish catch, nets and GPS equipment, and fled from the scene, police said.

The injured fishermen returned to the shore last evening and two of them -- Manickavel and Devendran -- who sustained serious head injuries, were undergoing treatment at the hospital here while others treated as out patients.
The injured fishermen in their complaint had stated that their attackers appeared to be sea pirates, police said.
Coastal Security Group police and fisheries department officials were conducting further inquiries.