Sept 30, Colombo: Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu state of India have again accused the Sri Lanka Navy of attacking them when they were fishing at mid-sea near the disputed Katchatheevu island today.

The fishermen from Rameswaram accused the Sri Lankan naval personnel of pelting stones and snapping fishing nets when they were fishing near Katchatheevu, Indian fishery officials have said.

The Fishermen had gone out to sea in about 600 boats last night and were fishing in different locations near Katchatheevu when they came under the alleged attack. The attack has damaged one boat and no one was injured, Indian officials said.

Tamil Nadu fishermen who poach in Sri Lankan waters in large trawlers scooping the seabed deprive the Sri Lankan fishermen of their livelihoods and Sri Lankan Navy has the unenviable task of monitoring the situation to safeguard Sri Lanka's aquatic resources.

Sri Lankan officials say during the three-decade long war when Sri Lankan fishermen were not allowed to fish in the northern and eastern seas, the Tamil Nadu fishermen had freely fished in the Sri Lankan waters.

The Sri Lankan fishermen, who were allowed fishing after the end of the war in May 2009, now have to face with the competition from the Tamil Nadu fishermen for their catch.

Tamil Nadu has refused to accept that the Kachchativu Island belongs to Sri Lanka under an accord signed by India in 1974.