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Navy accused of attacking Indian fishermen and damaging boats

The Sri Lankan Navy has been accused of assaulting and damaging 30 boats of Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu on Sunday.

Around 2,000 fishermen in more than 600 boats were fishing in the Palk Straits before being attacked by the Sri Lankan Navy, reported ColomboPage.

Attacks on Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy have been frequently occurring, with Tamil Nadu fishermen describing them as “commonplace” last month.

The attack comes as five Indian fishermen who were arrested by Sri Lankan forces in November last year were moved to Colombo’s Welikada prison ahead of their hearing.

The men stand accused of smuggling an unknown “packet”, into Sri Lanka, and have been held in Jaffna prison since their arrest.

Earlier this week India’s External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid urged his Sri Lankan counterpart GL Peiris to address their case.

See our earlier post: 'Expeditiously' address fishermen issue says India (03 November 2012)

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