RAMESWARAM: Sri Lankan navy allegedly took custody of 23 Indian fishermen and five mechanised fishing boats on Saturday midnight. About 700 boats from Rameswaram ventured into the sea on Saturday morning. When they were fishing near Katchatheevu region around Saturday evening, Sri Lankan navy personnel allegedly came in their patrolling boats and chased the fishermen away. Panicked, the fishermen left the area and were fishing in the other parts. However, the navy personnel were said to have returned by mid-night when the fishermen were near the Dhanushkodi - Talaimannar stretch and started chasing them away. They caught hold of five mechanised boats and 23 fishermen in the boats and it was also alleged they damaged the fishing gear of the boats. The Lankan naval personnel allegedly towed the boats and the fishermen to Sri Lanka and the fishermen were believed to have been kept in Talaimannar police station. The incident has further frustrated the fishermen community in Rameswaram, which said that they are not able to bear the repeated attacks. B Jesuraja, district secretary of Tamil Nadu Mechanised Boats Fishermen Association said that they are really depressed with the repeated attacks on the fishermen. "After 10 days strike, we ventured into the sea only three times in the month and the attacks from Sri Lankan navy are happening every alternate time. It has caused panic among the fishermen community here, as another 10 fishermen were recently held by Sri Lankan navy and were released after a week. The state and Central governments should take measures to find an amicable solution for this prolonged issue. Else, let the governments seriously think about providing alternate employment for the fishermen," he stressed.