Nagapattinam: About 30 to 40 fishermen were attacked allegedly by their Sri Lankan counterparts off Kodiakarai coast, who damaged their nets worth Rs 6 crore and threw the catch into the sea, a fisheries department official said.

However, none of them were injured in the attack and the group of 180 fishermen returned to shore safely today, District Assistant Director of Fisheries Sivakumar said.

Quoting one of the fishermen who returned, he said 15 Sri Lankan fishermen in five fast craft surrounded their boats, attacked them with wooden logs and threatened to blow up the boats with some petrol bombs they were carrying

The Sri Lankan fishermen threw the entire catch into the sea, damaged 15 tonnes of fishing nets worth Rs 6 crore and also snatched their mobile phones and GPS equipment, he said.

The 180 fishermen from various hamlets had set out to sea in 34 boats from Kodiakarai on June 30.

They returned to shore this morning and lodged complaints with the fisheries department and Q Branch police

Sivakumar said he is now conducting an inquiry in the matter.