Coast Guard seize two Sri Lankan boats in Indian waters

Chennai March 8 (IANS) The Indian Coast Guard on Wednesday apprehended two Sri Lankan fishing boats in Indian waters a day after a 21-year-old fisherman from Tamil Nadu was shot dead in Sri Lankan waters.

The Coast Guard said their ship Arnvesh apprehended the two Sri Lankan fishing boats -- Manoj and Kalanaputha-03 -- during surveillance four miles inside Indian waters. Both boats had five crew members each. The Sri Lankan boats were around 50 miles southeast of Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu. The boats were escorted to Karaikal and were handed over to the Coastal Security Group the Coast Guard said. A day earlier a 21-year-old fisherman from Tamil Nadu was shot dead in Sri Lankan waters on Tuesday but Colombo insisted the Sri Lankan Navy was not involved in the snooting. Six fishermen from Thangachimadam in Ramanathapuram district were fishing near the Katchatheevu islet in the narrow sea dividing the two countries when they were fired at on Monday night Indian officials said. One fisherman K. Britjo was killed and another was injured. The injured fisherman has been admitted in a hospital in Tamil Nadu. The others escaped without injuries. Colombo has promised a thorough probe into the attack. --IANS ao/nir/vt