Lankan navy men attack TN fishermen; four injured: Police

Four Tamil Nadu fishermen were today injured when they were attacked allegedly by Sri Lankan naval men with stones while fishing near Katchatheevu island.
Police said Rameswaram fishermen, who had ventured into the sea in 641 boats, were stopped and attacked near Katchatheevu in the Palk Straits allegedly by Lankan naval personnel who came in patrol boats and sea bikes.
The Lankan naval men also snapped the fishing nets of more than 30 boats and damaged the vessels, Rameswaram Fishermen Association President Sahayaraj alleged.
The injured fishermen were treated as out-patients at the government hospital here. The other boats returned to shore following the attack.

On October 13, Lankan naval personnel had arrested 24 fishermen from here and also chased away at gun point several others for allegedly fishing in Lankan waters near Katchatheevu.
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has expressed concern over increasing instances of arrest of Indian fishermen by the Lankan navy and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up the matter at the highest political level.
In a letter to Modi on October 14, she had said the number of those apprehended has now gone up to 87 besides 39 boats have been seized.