Chennai, April 30 (IANS). Sri Lankan pirates attacked a group of fishermen off Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu in mid-sea. The bandits looted the fishermen heavily.
Murugan, a fisherman, was injured in the attack and has been admitted to the government hospital in Nagapattinam.
The attack took place within Indian territorial waters near the International Maritime Boundary Line, 15 nautical miles off the Nagapattinam coast.
Tamil Nadu coastal police said the pirates looted walkie-talkies and GPS from the boat.
Nagapattinam fishermen association leader R. Antony Johnson said that the pirates were from Sri Lanka.
Speaking to IANS, Johnson said, “We are constantly being followed and attacked in the middle of the ocean. Be it attacks by pirates or capture or seizure of mechanized boats by Sri Lankan Navy fishermen. We are attacked regularly. The Central Government should immediately intervene in the matter and find a solution to this serious issue.
Johnson said many fishermen do not want to go fishing in the ocean. At the same time, the families of many people are very worried about these attacks.
Tamil Nadu coastal police officials also said that fishermen from Nagapattinam are now shying away from going into the sea these days.
More details are awaited in this matter.
–IANS
MKS/SKP
