Fifty fishermen from Rameswaram were injured when Sri Lankan Navy personnel allegedly attacked them with stones and bottles after firing in the air early this morning off the Katchathivu islet, Indian media reported.
The Press Trust of India reported that the Lankan naval personnel also damaged 30 boats and cut fishing nets, Indian police said.
One boat sank as it rammed into another in the rush to escape from the spot. However, the five fishermen on board were rescued by others.
Meanwhile, the Navy stated that Naval vessels attached to the North Central Naval Command on routine patrol arrested 19 Indian fishermen and 04 Indian fishing trawlers engaged in poaching in the seas north of Mannar on March 26. The arrested fishermen and the trawlers were handed over to the officials of the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Thalaimanner for legal action.
The Sri Lanka Navy also rendered assistance to salvage an Indian fishing trawler with a five–member crew, which had run-aground near Kachchatheevu Island on 26th March 2014. The rescued Indian fishermen were handed over to Delft Police for further action.
