Rameswaram: As many as 32 fishermen who were abducted to Sri Lanka's Mannar Coast on November 29 were set free, thanks to the intervention of a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) group, officials quoting fishermen said today (Dec 2, 2003).

They said that the fishermen, who were hijacked along with their boats, were released today.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Navalmen today surrounded 14 boats of the Indian fishermen and attacked them with deadly country weapons. They also deliberately dashed against their boats badly damaging 13 fishing boats early this morning.

The Navalmen also damaged the fishing nets and robbed their catches worth several lakhs. Later they tethered the 46 fishermen and took them to the Mannar Coast in an inhuman way.

The fishermen lodged a strong protest with the Indian officials and demanded a permanent solution to the atrocities of the Sri Lankan Navalmen.

PTI