Five fishermen of Rameswaram escaped miraculously on Wednesday when a trawler was allegedly sunk by hurling petrol bombs by a group of Sri Lankan fishermen.
Sources said the incident reportedly occurred near Neduntheevu in Sri Lankan waters.
The Sri Lankan fishermen belonging to Neduntheevu threw petrol bombs apparently opposing their counterparts for casting “double net” in their sea.
In search of trawler
Sources added that a group of 19 fishermen with four boats went to the sea on Wednesday by getting a search order to locate a trawler, which had capsized a few days ago.
Besides searching the boat they also cast double net, which was banned by the government.
The Sri Lankan fishermen, who saw the practice, were agitated over it and hurled petrol bombs.
The inmates of the boat Subramani, Selladurai, Muniasamy, Gopalakrishnan and Pallikondan were rescued by the fishermen in the other three Indian boats.
It was stated that the Sri Lankan Naval personnel, who arrived at the spot, took them to Talaimannar and kept them in their custody for a day.
Released
They returned to Rameswaram on Thursday after they were released by the Sri Lankan Navy.
