RAMANATHAPURAM/MADURAI:

Fishermen suspected to be from Sri Lanka on Saturday attacked an Indian fishing boat near Katchatheevu, injuring two fishermen of Thankachimadam.

Three grenades were hurled at the mechanised boat, which sunk in the impact. This is the first untoward incident after the renewal of fishing season this year.

Sources in the intelligence agencies said that a group of four fisherman of Thankachimadam ventured into sea early on Saturday in the boat (TN-MSB 785).

When they were fishing off the Katchatheevu island, a group of four Sri Lankans, who came in a fibreglass boat, approached them. After a heated argument over encroachment of the fishing territory, they hurled the explosives on the Indian boat.

T. Balamurugan (35) and R. Bothagar Raj (20) suffered injuries when they tried to escape from the attack. While Balamurugan received splinters of bombs in the leg, Bothagar Raj suffered a fracture in the hip.

Two others, R. Susai (45) and R. Praveen Kumar (20) of Rameswaram, escaped unhurt. The boat, which was ripped apart in the impact of the attack, sank instantaneously.

The fishermen managed to reach an island, from where native fishermen brought them to the coast on Sunday. The injured were admitted to hospital.

S. Velpandian, Assistant Director, Fisheries, told The Hindu that the attackers could be fishermen of Sri Lanka.

The exact cause of the attack was not clear yet, he said.

Boats return safely

Ramanathapuram District Collector R. Kirlosh Kumar said of the 785 boats that went into the sea for fishing, 784 boats returned to the coast safely.

Intelligence Bureau, `Q' Branch CID and other intelligence agencies were conducting enquiries with the fishermen on the identity of the suspects and the circumstances that led to the attack.

Sri Lanka Navy version

B. Muralidhar Reddy reports from Colombo

Sri Lanka Navy (SLA) claimed on Sunday evening that a `group of suspected terrorists in fishermen guise' hurled five hand grenades, sinking a mechanised boat.

"The LTTE terrorists murdered five innocent Tamil Nadu fishermen and abducted 12 others during the last four months," the SLA said.

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