15 fishermen attacked by Lankan navy

Fifteen fishermen, who put to sea from in Rameswaram, were on Monday attacked allegedly by the Sri Lankan navy when they were fishing near Dhanuskodi, fisheries department sources said.

The fishermen were fishing near a sand hillock in Indian waters when the Lankan navy came in two boats and allegedly beat them up with sticks, said Plavumin Thiyakarajan, assistant director, fisheries department.

The Lankan navy personnel told them they were fishing in Lankan waters and sent them back with a warning, officials said.

Meanwhile, the remand of 30 fishermen of Rameswaram and Thangachimadam, lodged in a Sri Lankan prison since their arrest on April 6 on poaching charges, was extended till May 20 by a court, S Emerite, Thangachimadam fishermen's association president said.

The Orkaavalthurai court extended the remand of 26 fishermen from Karaikal, arrested on April 5 while fishing near Nagapattinam, also to May 20, U Arulanandam, Pamban fishermen's association president said.

Image: Fishermen use their rafts as they fish in Tamil Nadu | Photograph: Kamal Kishore/Reuters