Badly damaged in the collision, the boat started sinking near Neduntheevu (Delft island) in Sri Lankan territory, the fishermen were thrown off, leaving them struggle for life in mid sea.
The fishermen were onboard three fishing vessels, which were towed by INS Khanjar for more than 30 hours in challenging sea conditions.
According to Rameswram fishermen, around 2,500 people had gone fishing on Saturday evening and while they were fishing at Dhanushkodi near Talaimannar, the Sri Lankan Navy reached the spot and chased them away.
The Supreme Court was informed by the Centre on Friday that 68 Indian fishermen, caught by Sri Lankan Navy in December 2021, have been released and repatriated to the country.
The fishermen from Tamil Nadu who left from Thoothukudi were arrested on Monday while they were engaged in cross-border fishing in Mullaitivu waters of Sri Lanka.
This means that around 45 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu are under the custody of Sri Lankan authorities.
He was holding a virtual meeting with Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa. This interaction follows Rajapaksa’s visit to India last month.
The former Union minister said that when fishermen went to sea in 556 boats on Saturday, the Sri Lankan navy conducted heavy stone-pelting on them damaging the boats and the fishing nets causing huge liabilities to the already deprived fishermen.
The personnel from the Pakistani agency targeted Indian fishermen on board two Indian fishing boats, 'Omkar' and 'Mahasagar' on Sunday.
It has also seized three trawlers from the fishermen.
