CHENNAI: The Sri Lankan Navy opened fire on Tamil Nadu fishermen and arrested 13 of them for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).

According to a Thanthi TV report, the Sri Lankan Navy claimed that they had to open fire as the fishermen tried to evade arrest.

Two fishermen have been seriously injured, as a result of the firing.

The government would seek the Centre's intervention to secure the release of the fishermen and their mechanised boat, a top Puducherry government official told PTI.

The names of the arrested fishermen were being collected, he said.

Puducherry Fisheries Minister K Lakshminarayanan claimed that the government is in touch with the External Affairs Minister to get the fishermen and boat released. These fishermen had set out for fishing a couple of days ago.

(With inputs from Bureau)