Rameswaram:Over 3,000 fishermen from Tamil Nadu were allegedly chased away by Sri Lankan Navy on Sunday when they were fishing near Katchatheevu islet in Sri Lankan waters.
The naval personnel also snapped fishing nets of several boats.
"The fishermen from this island town had ventured into the sea in over 500 boats and were fishing near Katchatheevu when the Lankan Navy personnel came to the spot, cut the nets and chased them away," a State fishermen association President N Devadoss in Rameswaram said.
He alleged the Lankan navy personnel snapped the fishing nets of around 50 boats and damaged fishing gear.
"The fishermen were forced to return to the shore without a catch," he said.
Devadoss appealed to the Central and state governments to take up with the Lankan authorities on the repeated attacks on
Tamil Nadu fishermen.
Sri Lankan navy on Saturday apprehended eight fishermen from Tamil Nadu on the charges of poaching in the countries territorial waters. The arrested fishermen were handed over to Assistant Director of Fisheries in Jaffna for onward action.
The fishing row between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka has been ongoing for more than three decades with hundreds of Tamil Nadu fishermen apprehended by the Island nation for poaching in their territorial waters.
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