Rameshwaram: A group of Indian fishermen were allegedly attacked by Sri Lankan Navy personals while fishing near the island nation's waters, and a boat was sunk as a result of the collision, according to a top Fisheries department officer.
According to the official, seven fishermen on the boat were thrown into the water after colliding with a Sri Lankan Navy vessel near Katchatheevu. The Lankan Navy men also cut the Indian fisherman's nets and chased them away, according to the Fisheries Department official, who also said that they (the Lankan Navy men) did not even try to save the fishermen who fell into the ocean.
"Apart from sinking the boat, the Sri Lankan navy showed no interest in investigating the situation of the fishermen on board. Not only did they slash our fishing nets, but they also chased us away "According to a member of the All Mechanised Fishermen Association, a fisherman.
On Wednesday evening, the fishermen set out from Rameswaram in 569 trawlers. However, after being chased away by Sri Lankan naval troops, they returned to the Rameswaram coast in the early hours of today and filed a complaint with the fisheries department officers.
K Navas Kani, a member of Parliament from Ramanathapuram, has urged the Centre to raise the matter of attacks on Tamil Nadu fisherman with the Sri Lankan government, as well as seek compensation for the loss of fishing equipment.
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