Three fishermen detained, ''assaulted'' by Forest officials

Rameswaram, Jan 21 (PTI): Three local fishermen todayalleged that they were detained by Forest Department officialswhile fishing and beaten up while in custody, a claim deniedby forest officials.

Karuppiah (40), his son Selvakumar and another man allegedin their complaint to the Marine Coastal Police that sevenForest Department personnel had held them while fishingyesterday.

While Forest officials said the fishermen were fishing inGulf of Mannar Protected area and that they had merely warnedand not detained them, the accused said they were detainedovernight and beaten up instead of being handed over topolice.

The victims alleged that they had "extensive bruises andwhip marks" as a result of the assault.

They also alleged that police had refused to registertheir case and they could finally do so with the help of theDistrict Fisherwomen''s Association.