Five fishermen hailing from the Arcottuthurai coastal village in Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu, fell victim to a vicious attack and robbery while navigating the open waters.
Returning to Nagapattinam in the early hours of Saturday, the fishermen recounted the terrifying incident that unfolded amidst the sea on Friday night. They promptly lodged a complaint with the Vedaranyam police station, detailing the traumatic encounter.
According to their account to the authorities, the fishermen were fishing approximately 16 nautical miles southeast of the Kodiyakkarai coast when they were ambushed and stripped of their possessions.
The victims, identified as Ponnuthurai (51) and S. Jeyachandran (40), set out from Arcottuthurai near Vedaranyam aboard a fiberglass boat on Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, G. Raman (51), R. Ramesh (28), and J. Sivakumar (40) embarked on a similar fishing expedition from the same village in another fiberglass vessel.
The assault transpired as both groups of fishermen were engaged in their activities around midnight, some 20 nautical miles southeast of the Kodiyakkarai coast. Suspected to be Sri Lankan assailants, four individuals intercepted their fishing boats, launching an aggressive attack and looting their belongings.
According to police sources, the robbers made away with essential items including Global Positioning System (GPS) devices, a mobile phone, and a smartwatch belonging to the fishermen.
This incident marks the first reported maritime attack in 2024, amidst a string of similar incidents faced by fishermen from Nagapattinam district, with at least eight occurrences reported between August and December of the previous year.
Prompt action has been initiated by the Vedaranyam Marine Police of the Coastal Security Group, who have commenced an investigation into the matter.
Expressing deep concern over the escalating threats faced by fishermen, R. Periaswamy, a prominent fishermen leader, emphasized the urgent need for robust interventions from both the central and state governments to quell such attacks and ensure the safety of seafarers.
