The Coast Guard on Tuesday denied firing at Indian fishermen in Palk Bay, the strait between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka's Mannar district.
In a statement issued here, the Coast Guard said no fishermen aboard the Jehovah Jireh boat were fired at on Monday.
A Coast Guard vessel on patrol off the Indian Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) was routinely investigating the fishing boat Jehovah Jireh for paired trawling.
"As the Coast Guard vessel approached, the fishing boat tried to leave the site, abandoning their the nets in the water and did not stop despite repeated warnings.
"During the chase, the boat rammed the Coast Guard ship. The boat was finally stopped and boarded after a chase of 50 minutes. The boat crew was interrogated," the statement added.
Fishermen in Rameswaram have alleged that the Coast Guard ship personnel had fired rubber bullets at the Jehovah Jireh crew.
--IANS
vj/ksk/vm
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
