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Eight fishermen were injured in separate incidents of attack allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy while fishing off Kodiakarai coast, fisheries department officials said on Thursday.
Gunasekaran, assistant director of fisheries, Nagapattinam, said four fishermen had put to sea in a fibreglass boat from Vanavanmahadevi near Nagapattinam when Lankan Navy allegedly attacked them with wooden logs while they were fishing few knots South East off Kodiakarai last night.
They also seized their catch and threw it into the sea, he said, adding the fishermen reached the shore this afternoon and were admitted to the government hospital with injuries.
Officials said in the other incident, four fishermen of Vellapallam fishing hamlet near Vedaranyam in the district were allegedly attacked while fishing off Kodiakarai coast Wednesday and their catch destroyed. The fishermen, who managed to reach the shore this morning, have been admitted to a government hospital with injuries.
Meanwhile, a Sri Lankan court today ordered the release of 19 Indian fishermen, who were arrested by Lankan Navy on March 13 for allegedly fishing in that country's waters while another court extended upto April 19 remand of 26 Indian fishermen from Karaikal, arrested on April 5 for allegedly violating Sri Lanka's international maritime boundary.
The case relating to the arrest of 30 fishermen from Rameswaram on April 6 has been posted for hearing on April 18, officials said.
The release of the Indians eased tension as fishermen in Rameswaram had launched agitations including boycotting fishing seeking their release, said local fishermen association representatives.
Image: Reuters