40 Tamil Nadu boats attack six boats from Kerala for fishing at 76 East; St. Paul faces massive damage

KOLLAM: Tamil Nadu fishermen attack boats from Neendakara, Kollam. The boats from Kollam were fishing in the Indian Ocean, 125 nautical miles from the coast. Four workers were injured and six boats were damaged. The attack was carried out by saying that Kerala boats would not be allowed to fish south of Vizhinjam. The incident took place at around 4 pm on Saturday.

The injured were West Bengal native Hari (46) working on the boat Hemandam; Ashiq (21), Shekhar (21) and Vanikudi, Tamil Nadu native Edwin Kumar (49), working on the boat St. Paul, owned by Ziyad, a native of Shaktikulangara. The boats from Neendakara, which were fishing in the 76 East area of ​​the Indian Ocean, were surrounded by about 40 Tamil Nadu boats from Muttom and Colachel harbours and attacked at sea.

The attack with metal rods and fishing shovels broke the windows of all six boats. Tamil Nadu fishermen broke the wheelhouse of the St. Paul boat. The nets were also destroyed. The St. Paul boat suffered a loss of five lakh rupees. The boats that were attacked reached Kollam around 12 noon on Wednesday. The injured workers sought treatment at the district hospital. The Neendakara Coastal Police, which has registered a case, will hand over the further investigation to the Tamil Nadu Coastal Police.

Left a week ago

It takes a day and a night to reach 76 East from Neendakara. Kerala boats go there together due to the risk of danger. The boats left Neendakara a week ago.

Fishing allowed for up to 200 nautical miles

Boats licensed for deep-sea fishing can fish up to 200 nautical miles. However, Tamil Nadu fishermen have been opposing the entry of Kerala boats into the 76 East area for three years. Kerala boats go to this area in search of deep-sea prawns priced at Rs 100 per kg, red ring prawns priced at Rs 400, and octopus priced at Rs 280.