Chennai: In a disturbing incident, the Sri Lankan Navy allegedly attacked several Indian fishing trawlers and forced hundreds of Tamil Nadu fishermen to retreat at gunpoint while they were fishing near the contentious Katchatheevu islet in the early hours of Tuesday.
The affected fishermen, who returned to the Rameswaram fishing jetty, reported that Sri Lankan naval personnel, aboard fast patrol crafts, encircled several Indian fishing boats. The fishermen recounted that the naval personnel pelted stones at them indiscriminately, causing significant damage to their fishing nets, which were valued at several lakhs of rupees.
In addition to the damage, the Sri Lankan Navy reportedly seized several kilograms of the catch from the Indian trawlers and chased them away from the fishing zone. The fishermen, shaken by the incident, lodged complaints with Tamil Nadu fisheries officials upon their return.
Fisheries officials confirmed that over 3,000 fishermen had set sail from Rameswaram on Monday morning for their routine fishing activities. The incident has caused considerable distress among the fishing community, and they have urged the state and central governments to take immediate action to ensure their safety and protect their livelihood.
The attack highlights the ongoing tensions and disputes over fishing rights in the waters surrounding Katchatheevu, an islet ceded to Sri Lanka by India in 1974. The situation remains tense as local authorities and the fishing community await further developments.