Nine Sri Lanka fishermen arrested; four Tamil Nadu men thrashed in sea

The Sri Lankan fishermen were arrested by the Coast Guard while fishing off Kodiyakarai, Joint director of fisheries department Suburaj said, adding the Coast Guard also seized their two boats. 

The arrested fishermen from Sri Lanka were later brought to Karaikal to be produced before a local court, he said. 

Meanwhile, four Tamil Nadu fishermen were allegedly beaten up by the Sri Lankan naval personnel off Katchatheevu island. 

S Sagayam, president of Rameswaram fishermen Association, said that the four were part of about 2,000 who had ventured into the sea on Wednesday night from here in 568 boats. He said the Lankan naval personnel came to the spot in fast boats, attacked the four with plastic pipes, cut the fishing nets of 20 boats and chased them away from the spot. 

The island nation navy men also snatched the GPS equipment and cellphones from the Indian fishermen, he said.