More than 600 boats were fishing near the International Maritime Boundary Line when they were allegedly surrounded by Sri Lankan Naval personnel and attacked with stones, forcing them to return to the shores, fisheries officials said quoting the fishermen.
This is the first attack on Tamil Nadu fishermen allegedly by the Srilankan Republic's navy after External Affairs Minister S M Krishna raised the issue with authorities in Colombo during his four-day visit last week.
According to fisherman Justin, whose boat was pelted with stones, the Lankan Navalmen attacked them with big stones damaging the windscreen of many boats. They also cut off the fishing nets and took them away.
More than 200 boats suffered damage in 'the heavy shower' of stones, said another fisherman Jagadheesh, who suffered cut injury in his leg.
