TN fishermen 'attacked' by Sri Lankan navy

Sri Lankan Naval personnel allegedly attacked a group of fishermen from Tamil Nadu with stones when they were fishing near Katchatheevu today, officials said.

Around 4,000 fishermen from this island had put out to sea in 614 boats last night and were fishing near International Maritime Boundary Line off Katchatheevu, an islet ceded to Sri Lanka by India in the 1970s, when a section of them came under attack.

Accusing the fishermen of having entered their territory, the Sri Lankan Navalmen pelted stones at them continously, forcing them to return to the shores, officials said adding they had also cut some fishing nets.