The Lankan naval personnel cut fishing nets of about 70 boats and pelted stones and bottles forcing more than 2,000 fishermen to flee and return to the shore here this morning, Tamil Nadu Mechanised Fishermen Association President P Sesuraja told reporters here.
Windscreens of some of the boats suffered damage, he said.
The fishermen from this region had put out to sea in 437 mechanised fishing boats last night and were fishing off Dhanushkodi sea when Lankan Naval personnel allegedly rammed their vessel against one of the boats, Sesuraja said.
The latest incident comes a day after five fishermen from Pudukottai District were detained by Sri Lankan Naval personnel along with their boat.
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Condemning the incident, Sesuraja said such an attack taking place when Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was on a visit to India and holding talks with his counterpart Narendra Modi caused deep anguish.
"When the Prime Ministers of the two countries are holding talks, the attack on Indian fishermen has taken place. It causes deep anguish. The two leaders should find a permanent solution to the recurring problem," he told PTI.
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Meanwhile, several fishermen staged a protest in this town, condemning the attack, and resolved to go on an indefinite strike.
Fishermen here have decided to boycott fishing from today, said General Secretary of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Fishermen Association, MJ Bose.