Fishermen from India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu have accused the Sri Lankan Navy personnel of snapping their fishing nets and chasing them back to Indian waters while they were fishing near Dhanushkodi in TN’s Rameshwaram district. Nearly 300 Tamil Nadu fishermen who had ventured into the Indian Ocean on Saturday night have claimed that they were harassed by the Sri Lankan Navy, India Today reported.

The fishermen claimed that 50 boats had to return after Sri Lankan Navy patrol boats surrounded and threatened them. They have alleged that the Sri Lankan Navy personnel cut off their nets, threw bottles and stones at them and ordered the fishermen to return home.

Tamil Nadu fishermen have time and again alleged they are constantly harassed by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Since 2009, the Sri Lankan navy has detained hundreds of Indian fishermen alleging they strayed into the Lankan waters. While at times the fishermen have been released upon the intervention by the Indian government but the two countries have failed to find a long-lasting solution to the problem.

(SAM)