LTTE cadre attack Indian fishermen, flee with diesel

Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, Nov 11 (UNI) Suspected LTTE ultras attacked Indian fishermen in the country's territorial waters off the Rameswaram coast and forcefully took away diesel from their boats, today.

Police sources said the suspected extremists, carrying countrymade weapons, approached around 20 fishermen, fishing near Irana Theevu, and demanded diesel.

While the fishermen, who gave away diesel stocked in their boats without showing any resistance, were paid, the ultras forcefully took away fuel from the ones who refused to part with it. In the melee, the extremists injured a fisherman by hitting him with a bottle.

About 150 litres of diesel were believed to have been taken away by the militants, who came in five boats. They also asked the fishermen to bring engine oil when they come the next time, sources added.

UNI