Indian media reports alleged today that three Tamil Nadu fishermen were thrown into the sea after their boat was ransacked by Sri Lanka Navy in an incident that is likely to aggravate the crisis over fishing in and around the maritime boundaries between the two countries.
The latest incident, the reports said, came in the aftermath of the killing of two Tamil Nadu fishermen a few weeks ago. Indian fisheren accused the Sri Lankan Navy of killng the fishermen, but the Navy has vehemently denied the charge. It also came days after a warning from India that use of force against the fishermen should not be repeated and high-level talks between Indian Foreign Secretary and Sri Lankan officials in Colombo.
A Rameshwaram-datelined Press Trust of India report said that in the latest incident occurred when a group of fishermen in ten country boats had anchored their boats in the sea.
Two of the fishermen -- Anthonydass and Albert -- told Indian officials that they were very much in the Indian zone when Sri Lankan Navalmen allegedly assaulted them and ransacked their boats.
Officials also said the country boat fishermen would not have crossed the International Maritime Boundary line in view of the limited capacity of their vessels.
The fishermen complained that Sri Lankan Navalmen cut off the anchor ropes and assaulted them with their gun. "Three of us were pushed into sea and our fishing nets were also thrown into waters," they said adding they swam for a long time before locating their boat.
Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, during her visit to Colombo on January 31, had voiced "serious concern" over the killing of two Tamil Nadu fishermen and said India expected Sri Lanka to put in place "effective measures" to avoid recurrence of such incidents.
A joint statement issued at the conclusion of Rao's visit had said the two sides agreed that use of force cannot be justified under any circumstances.
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