Ten Indian fishermen taken into custody

Chennai, Sep 11 (UNI) About ten Indian fishermen were taken into custody by Sri Lankan Navy personnel while they were fishing near Katchatheevu in the high seas off Rameswaram coast, official sources said today.

The fishermen, hailing from Rameswaram, ventured into the sea yesterday in two mechanised boats for fishing when they were taken into custody by the Lankan navy for crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) at about 0200 hrs this morning.

When the Lankan Navy spotted the Indian fishermen, they opened fire in the air following which fishermen in other boats fled the scene.

Shaken by the firing shots, the two boats were stranded in the mid sea and the Lankan navy took them into custody.

The fishermen were travelling in two boats, one owned by Aloliya Sahayam of Thangachi Madam, and the other owned by Titus of Pamban.

While Amalan (42), Manickam (40), Stalin (38), Mani (27) and Devendran were travelling in the boat owned by Sahayam, the other five -- Sankar (32), Nelson (24), Saravanan (30), Guruchandran (35) and Velu (32)were travelling in the boat owned by Titus.

The other fishermen, who reached Rameswaram around 1100 hrs informed the boat owners about the incident, who in turn lodged a complaint with the fisheries department and the police.

Sources said the fishermen might have crossed the IMBL to Katchatheevu as the catch could be higher in that area.

UNI