Five Nagapattinam fishermen robbed after mid-sea attack

It is said that while a group of fishermen from Akkaraipettai, S Hari (25), Rajendiran (35), Kalidas (24), Manimaran (32) and Ilamparuthi (23) were fishing at 19 nautical miles off from Kodiyakarai, a gang of three unidentified persons, in their casuals, allegedly attacked them with rifles and swords around 11 pm, on Wednesday. The assailants’ boats appeared to belong to Sri Lanka. 

The five fishermen, sensing trouble, switched on their engine and attempted to flee from the spot. The attackers, who came in a boat fitted with a highspeed engine, chased them for about half a nautical mile and tried to rob their belongings. When the fishermen resisted, they attacked all the five with sharp objects. 

While Rajendiran suffered an injury to the arm, Manimaran was hurt on his head. After the fishermen collapsed, the attackers escaped with the fishermen’s catch, GPS, battery, torchlight and mobile phones.

The fishermen somehow managed to pull themselves up and returned to Vilunthamaadi around 4 am on Thursday. 

Locals rushed them to the local primary health care, from where they were referred to Nagapattinam Government General Hospital. The fishermen are currently under treatment and further investigations are on.