Rameswaram: The fishermen community here plunged into anxiety and anger on Sunday as over 2,000 Tamil Nadu fishermen were allegedly intimidated and chased away in the high seas while fishing in the Palk Strait near Katchatheevu islet off here on Sunday by the Sri Lankan Navy personnel.
Reports reaching the pilgrim island said the Island-Navy personnel also allegedly destroyed GPS communication equipment and fishing nets in over 200 mechanised boats. The fishermen had put out to sea in over 700 vessels on Saturday and were fishing in the sea between Dhanushkodi and Katchatheevu islet, said P Sesuraja, president of the Tamil Nadu Coastal Mechanised Fishermen’s Association.
He said the Sri Lankan Navy personnel came to the area around 11 pm on Saturday in seven patrol boats and frightened the fishermen by turning on giant lights. Besides, they allegedly threw out the sea communication gadgets among other things.
