A trawler carrying weapons to the LTTE terrorists has been destroyed by the Maldivian coastguards this morning (17). According to the latest reports the trawler has sunk around 8:30 a.m. off Gaaff Alif atoll in the Maldivian waters.

The suspected trawler flying Sri Lankan ensign was first observed by the Maldivian fishermen last evening (16). As the trawler had opened fire at a local fishing "Dhoni", the matter was immediately informed to the Maldivian coastguards.

The Maldivian coastguard vessels after a hot pursuit ordered the suspected trawler to stop. However, the trawler had ignored the orders and started firing at the coastguards. The Maldivian coastguards retaliated to the attack and destroyed the trawler.

News reports from Maldives indicate that five crewmembers who had jumped overboard from the destroyed boat were rescued by the Maldivian coastguards. "One man was captured on Wednesday evening when he jumped overboard. The four other men were captured this morning when they abandoned ship" the news reports said.

According to Government Spokesman of Maldives, Mohamed Hussein Shareef, it was the first crewmember rescued by the coastguards on Wednesday evening (16) that had revealed the LTTE connection to the incident. The crewmember speaking in South Indian Malayalam language had identified himself as a South Indian fisherman and told the coastguards that the trawler was smuggling arms and ammo for the LTTE.

He has further revealed that the four LTTE terrorists had hijacked the fishing vessel and threw the other crew members overboard along with the fishing equipment. The man has also claimed that he was spared because he is the Technical Officer on the boat, and was needed by the crew in case of breakdown.

Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports indicate that the destroyed trawler was the South Indian fishing vessel named "Sri Krishana" which was hijacked by the LTTE terrorists on 12th March 2007. According to the available information the boat had a crew of 12 Indian nationals when it was seized by the LTTE terrorists.