Lankan navy detains boats near IMBL

Rameswaram (TN): Over 513 mechanised boats of Indian fishermen were allegedly detained at gunpoint by Sri Lankan navy personnel near the International Maritime Boundary Line off this coastal town, fisheries department officials said today.

The officials, quoting the fishermen, said six Sri Lankan patrol vessels surrounded them at around 9.00 AM yesterday and detained them for about 15 hours. The fishermen, who returned this morning, alleged that an Indian Coast Guard patrol rushed to the spot on seeing them but went away after a while without making any efforts to free them.