Fisherman confirms kidnapping by LTTE

Chennai, May 19 (UNI) With one of the 12 abducted fisherman, Clements saying that they were held captive by Tamil Tigers, the charge against the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was confirmed.

Clements is one among the 12 Indian fishermen, who were released by the LTTE and reached the Rameswaram coast yesterday. They were brought here by the state police and presented before Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today.

Stating that he was the leader of the fishermen group, Clements told newspersons that they were abducted by the LTTE and their boats seized when they ventured into the sea.

The Tigers told the fishermen that that they were being abducted only to use their boat, Clemants said and added that they were taken blind-folded to various locations, including a temple and some forest areas.

Except one fisherman Simon, a native of Quilon in Kerala, all other fishermen were together moved from one place to other, he added.

Asked how the fishermen were treated by the LTTE, Clements said though Tigers used mild force initially, they were not harassed later. However, the abductors did not feed them properly, he added.

The Sea Tigers, the naval wing of the LTTE handed them over to a group of Indian fishermen in the mid-seas, Clements said.

Simon, a mechanical engineer, who was driving the boat was separated from other fishermen, Tamil Nadu Director General of Police D Mukherjee told newspersons here, after presenting the released fishermen before the media at his office today.

Mr Mukherjee said the fishermen, who returned last night after 74 days of missing told him that they were kidnapped by the LTTE in the high sea on March 6.

Earlier, the DGP presented the released fishermen before Mr Karunanidhi, who announced a financial relief of Rs 10,000 to each fishermen to meet their immediate requirements.

Of the 12 fishermen, 11 hailed from Kanniyakumari and Tuticorin districts. They had ventured into the sea from Kodimunai near Kanniyakumari on fishing vessel 'Sri Krishna. The fate of the other fisherman Simon, from Kerala was yet to be known.

UNI