Pt.Pedro fisherman attacked by Indian poachers, missing

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 February 2004, 18:32 GMT]
Kanagaretnam Ratnam Sivanandam (31), one of the three Jaffna fishermen who were alleged to have been attacked by a group of Indian poachers with swords in the northern sea Monday morning is reported to be missing. Two other fishermen, Sellathurai Selvarajah (41) and his son Selvarasa Selvamohan (17), have been admitted to the Point Pedro base hospital, fisheries sources said.

Three fishermen of Viyaparimoolai in Vadamarachchi division in Jaffna district Monday early morning went for fishing in the northern sea. Suddenly Indian poachers in three crafts surrounded them and started to attack them with swords and other dangerous weapons, fisheries sources said.

Indian poachers are reported to have thrown Mr.Sivanandam into the sea after cutting him with swords. Indian poachers left the other two wounded local fishermen in the sea in their boats.

Fellow local fishermen rushed to site on hearing the attack and rescued the injured and admitted them at the Point Pedro base hospital, fisheries sources said.