Rameswaram, November 19
More than 2,000 Tamil Nadu fishermen were allegedly chased away by the Sri Lankan Navy while they were fishing near Katchatheevu islet, a fishermen association leader said here on Tuesday.
The fishermen from this island town had ventured into the sea on Monday evening in 540 boats and were fishing off Katchatheevu when a team of Sri Lankan naval personnel came to the spot and attacked before driving them away, Rameswaram Fishermen Association president P Sesuraja alleged.
Fishing nets of 20 boats were also snapped, he said, adding that the fishermen were forced to return to the shore without a catch.
He urged the Centre to take up the fishermen’s issue with the newly-elected Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Earlier this month, over 3,000 fishermen from here were allegedly chased away by Sri Lankan Navy when they were fishing near Katchatheevu islet. PTI