2,400 fishermen stopped by Lankan navy, asked to return

Rameswaram, Feb 20 (PTI) About 2400 fishermen, who put outto sea from here in 600 mechanised boats, were allegedlystopped in mid-sea off this coastal town by the Sri LankanNavy early this morning and asked to return.

President of local Fishermen''s Association Yesu Raja toldreporters here that the Sri Lankan Naval men, who came in fourboats warned them at "gunpoint" to return while they werefishing between Dhanushkodi and Katchatheevu and that they hadcrossed the International Maritime Boundary Line.

The Navalmen also cautioned the fishermen not to come tothe area in future for fishing, he alleged.

Yesu Raja sought the help of the Coast Guard to identifythe IMBL.