Over 600 TN fishermen chased away by Lankan Navy

Over 600 Tamil Nadu fishermen were chased away and fishing nets of nearly 10 boats cut by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly fishing in their waters, a fishermen association leader said here Thursday.

The fishermen from here had put out to the sea in 100 mechanised boats late Wednesday and were fishing near Katchatheevu, when the naval personnel reached the spot and chased them away, president of Tamil Nadu Mechanised Boat Fishermen Association P Sesuraja alleged.

The navy warned the fishermen against the alleged poaching in the island nation waters and snapped the nets of around 10 boats, he said, adding the navy personnel took away the catch of the fishermen, too.

Meanwhile, five fishermen from Nagapattinam district were injured in a mid-sea attack by the Lankan pirates off Kodiakarai coast early this morning.

The fishermen alleged that they were attacked using iron rods at knifepoint by the pirates who snatched their valuables, fish catch, fishing nets, before fleeing the scene, fisheries department officials.

The fishermen have been admitted to the government hospital.

On September 13, nearly 250 fishermen from this island town were allegedly driven away by the Sri Lankan Navy while they were fishing off Neduntheevu.