Sri Lanka Navy harassing Indian fishermen: Jayalalithaa

Chennai, June 28 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take up with Colombo the alleged harassment of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lanka Navy.

In a letter to Manmohan Singh Wednesday, released to the media Thursday, Jayalalithaa said that from time immemorial fishermen from Tamil Nadu have fished in the waters near Katchatheevu.

Citing the latest incident of harassment near Katchatheevu Tuesday, she asked Singh to tell the Sri Lankan government to instruct its navy to exercise restraint.

According to her, 704 mechanised fishing boats went for fishing in the sea from Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu June 25.

"The Sri Lankan Navy is reported to have chased the fishermen and cut the ropes and damaged the nets of 10 boats, resulting in a huge loss to the fishermen," her letter said.

She said the incident had shocked Tamil Nadu and created a psychological fear in the minds of Indian fishermen.

Katchatheevu is a small island that India ceded to Sri Lanka in 1974. It is located in the Palk Strait that divides the two countries.