TN fishermen attacked at midsea

Nagapattinam (TN), Jan 19 (PTI) A group of 12 fishermenfrom Tamil Nadu today alleged they were attacked with emptyliquor bottles by Sri Lankan Naval personnel off Kodiakaraicoast in the district damaging their fishing nets, in a freshincident since last week''s killing of a fisherman.

The fishermen of Arucottuthurai near Vedaranyam allegedthat when they were fishing off Kodiakarai coast, the SriLankan Navy personnel onboard a fast craft surrounded theirboats and threw empty liquor bottles at them.

After hurling the bottles for a few minutes, they wentaway, Harichandran, one of the 12 fishermen, said.

Though no one was injured, some fishing nets were damagedin the incident. The fishermen immediately returned to theshore, he said.

The incident comes close on the heels of the killing of afisherman from Jegadapattinam on January 12 in alleged firingby Sri Lankan Naval personnel. India had lodged a strongprotest with Sri Lanka over the attack.

However, Sri Lanka had denied involvement of its Navy inthe killing.