Nagapattinam (Tamil Nadu), May 3 (UNI) Twenty fishermen from Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu were injured after they were assaulted and robbed by unidentified assailants suspected to be Sri Lankan nationals in three separate incidents at mid-sea on Friday midnight.

The injured fishermen were taken to Nagapattinam government hospital on Saturday morning after returning to the coast.

Five of them, who sustained internal and external injuries, were undergoing treatment, while the others were treated as out-patients.

The fishermen alleged that when they were fishing on high seas, a few nautical miles off south-east of the Kodiyakkarai coast in Nagapattinam, the Tamil-speaking assailants approached the Indian fishing boats in motorized boats.

The assailants boarded the Indian fishing boats and attacked the fishermen with iron rods, stones and knives. They then looted fishing nets, GPS gadgets, mobile phones, batteries, catch and other belongings before escaping in their boats.

The affected fishermen reported the attack to the fisheries officials and also Tamil Nadu marine police.

State fisheries department officials said the fishermen were hailing from Serudhur, Vellapallam and Akkaraipettai coastal hamlets in Nagapattinam district.

Meanwhile, protesting against the murderous attack, the fishermen of Serudhur, Vellapallam and other coastal hamlets resorted to an indefinite strike, demanding the Centre to provide adequate protection to them, besides prevent recurrence of such incidents in the future.

They were also demanding the Centre to intensify patrolling along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) by Indian maritime forces to safeguard the Tamil Nadu fishermen.

The fishermen were also demanding the Central and Tamil Nadu governments to provide suitable compensation for the loss in the attack.

UNI GSM PRS