Sri Lankan fishermen abducted seven of their counterparts from Tamil Nadu early today off Kodiakarai and demanded a ransom from their relatives to release them, an Indian official said.

The Sri Lankan fishermen had been armed, the Indian official told Indian media.

The fishermen from Pamban had put out to sea in a country boat late last night. The armed Lankan fishermen abducted them, called up their relatives on their mobile phones and told them they would released only if some money was paid, PTI reported.

They did not specify the amount but said the ransom could be negotiated, the official said.

Meanwhile, some other fishermen who had set sail in 500 mechanised boats last night, returned empty handed today as Lankan naval personnel chased them away and cut the nets in some boats, he said.
(with inputs from PTI)