A group of fishermen who went to fish near Katchatheevu in the Palk straits were attacked allegedly by the Sri Lankan navy even before they entered Lankan territorial waters, fisheries officials said here on Thursday.
Fishermen in 614 boats had put to sea from here on Wednesday night and they were attacked allegedly by the navalmen who threw stones and other missiles including bottles to prevent them from crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line, they said.
The windscreens of some boats were damaged, officials said, adding fishermen were also threatened at gunpoint not to cross the IMBL.
The fishermen later returned to shore.