Forty fishermen from this region of Tamil Nadu were 'detained' by a group of country boat fishers from Kerala for fishing off their state coast allegedly in violation of rules.
The fishermen from Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga districts were allegedly fishing close to the coast in their mechanised boats off Kathangode in Kerala when the country boat fishermen intercepted and forced them to 'surrender' late Sunday night, police here said.
Quoting information received by some of the detained fishermen's families in Rameswaram, police said the Kerala fishermen took the 40 to Kathangode and handed them over to the local fisheries department officials.
The Ramanathapuram fishermen informed their relatives over phone that the Kerala counterparts were demanding Rs three lakh per boat for releasing them.
According to rules in force in Keala, mechanised boats are barred from fishing in waters close to the coast as such areas have been reserved for traditional fishing craft.