Seven Tamil fishermen were injured when Sri Lankan naval personnel allegedly attacked them for fishing near Katchatheevu islet early today.

“Seven persons were injured—one seriously—in the attack,” said president of the Ramanathapuram District Country Boat Fishermen’s Association SP Rayappan.

The naval personnel allegedly pelted stones forcing more than 500 fishermen from Pamban near here to flee and return to the shore this morning, he said.

“The fishermen had ventured into the sea in more than 100 boats last evening and were fishing off Katchatheevu when they were attacked,” he added. The injured fishermen were treated at Pamban government hospital.

On October 6, over 2,000 fishermen from Rameswaram were forced to return without a catch after the Lankan navy allegedly attacked them with stones, besides ramming and sinking a mechanised boat and destroying the fishing nets of several vessels off Dhanushkodi.