700 TN fishermen chased away by Sri Lankan navy

A total of 700 fishermen, who had set off on more than 500 boats from Rameswaram for fishing on Saturday, were prevented by the Sri Lankan navy from entering the waters near Katchatheevu. Naval personnel also allegedly seized some of their catch.

Yesuraj, president of the Fishermen’s Welfare Association, Rameswaram, told Express that while the Tamil Nadu fishermen were netting near Katchatheevu, they were surrounded by the island nation’s naval personnel, who arrived on four speedboats.
They noted the number of boats and robbed a small quantity of the fishermen’s catch, he added.
Moreover, they sped in their boats across the international maritime boundary line to obstruct the entry of the Indian fishermen and warned them of arrest through a megaphone if they intruded into Lankan waters.
Sources said the fishermen returned with poor catch after the incident. However, they added, some managed to enter Lankan waters under the cover of darkness.