RAMESWARAM, Tamil Nadu, India (NNN-Bernama) -- Some 22 Tamil Nadu fishermen were injured in two separate attacks by the Sri Lankan navy while fishing near Katchatheevu in Palk Straits.
Fisheries officials said Tuesday a large group of fishermen from here had set out to sea in more than 600 boats to Katchatheevu, an islet ceded by India to Sri Lanka, when three of their boats were surrounded by the navy who later arrested 16 members.
The fishermen were taken to a naval base in Neduntheevu and were allegedly beaten before they were released, Press Trust of India reported.
One fisherman who was seriously injured was taken to the Ramanathapuram government hospital while the others received outpatient treatment.
In another incident, a group of six fishermen who had gone out to sea from nearby Mandapam were allegedly physically assaulted by Sri Lankan fishermen and sufferred concussions and weals on their bodies.
The fishermen claimed they were warned by the Sri Lankan navy not to inform state authorities of what had taken place.
On Sunday, Sri Lankan navy allegedly took away the fishermen's catch at gun point near Katchatheevu after surrounding 10 of their boats.
In another incident on the same day, eight fishermen from Vedaranyam village in Nagapattinam were injured in an attack by Sri Lankan navy in mid-sea off Arukattuthurai in Tamil Nadu.
Tuesday's attack came a day after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, accusing the government's "soft handling" the Sri Lankan navy's alleged attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen.
Ruling UPA key ally DMK chief M Karunanidhi had also slammed recurring attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen and demanded the government seek a permanent solution to the issue. -- NNN-BERNAMA
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