Lanka pirates attack Tamil Nadu Fishermen
Eleven fishermen from Nambiar Nagar in Nagapattinam district were attacked and robbed by suspected Sri Lankan pirates while fishing near Kodiyakkarai.
The attackers arrived in two high-speed boats, assaulted the fishermen with iron rods, wooden sticks, and knives, and looted valuables such as a silver chain, an outboard engine, GPS device, battery, transceiver, and fishing nets.
The first assault happened around 8 PM and targeted a group of six fishermen led by C. Vignesh. Half an hour later, another group of five fishermen, led by M. Sasikumar, was attacked a few hundred meters away.
The second group lost two GPS units, an echo sounder, five cell phones, and about 500 kg of fishing nets among other items.
The injured were taken to Nagapattinam Government Medical College Hospital; one injured person, S. Sivasankar, with more severe cuts, was transferred to Thanjavur for further care.
Marine police in Vedaranyam have registered two separate cases and launched investigations.
In response, fishermen from Nambiar Nagar declared a strike, keeping their motorised and mechanised boats docked as a protest demanding better protection.