SL fishing boat found abandoned on Rameswaram shore

Rameswaram Regional Deputy Director of Fisheries, E Kathavarayan, said that the Fisheries Department was informed about the incident around 6 am after somefishermen noticed the abandoned boat.

A fishing net, two fuel cans, outboard engine and an anchor were found in the boat. It was the first such incident in Rameswaram this year. Police personnel attached to Tamil Nadu Coastal Security Group (CSG) are investigating the incident, Kathavarayan said.

After conducting enquiries, Rameswaram Inspector of Marine Police, Felix Peter, said that two allegedly Tamil-speaking fishermen from Sri Lanka set out to the sea off the coast of the island nation on Wednesday. However, their whereabouts were yet to be traced. A case has been registered in this connection.

The case was handed over to the Department of Customs, Rameswaram, for further course of enquiry. To check any unlawful activity of contraband smuggling by sea route, the CSG personnel were on alert round the clock and patrolling has been intensified along shores, Peter said.

Also, the police asked the fishermen to report if they found movement ofany strangers.