JOIN USTamil Nadu fisherman shot at by Indian Navy personnel
A fisherman from Mayiladuthurai district in Tamil Nadu was injured after Indian Navy personnel, who were guarding the Palk Bay near the India-Sri Lanka International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), shot at the boat in which he was travelling after it didn’t stop despite repeated warnings.
The fisherman, who was travelling in a boat to fish in the Palk Bay, was asked to stop by an Indian navy ship which was on patrol in the early hours of Friday. However, the fisherman did not stop apparently apprehending the ship belonged to the Sri Lankan Navy, which confiscates boats and arrests fishermen in case of catching them mid-sea.
When the boat did not stop despite repeated warnings, the Indian Navy personnel fired warning shots to stop the boat, as per standard operating procedures.
“One of the crew onboard the suspicious boat is reported to have sustained an injury. The injured person was administered first aid by the ship and evacuated by an Indian Navy Chetak helicopter to INS Parandu at Ramnad and has been shifted to the Government Hospital, Ramanathapuram for further medical management,” the Indian Navy said in a statement.
The condition of the fisherman, who is now admitted at the Madurai Medical College Hospital, is reported to be stable. The Navy said an inquiry has been ordered to investigate the incident.
Taking strong note of the incident, Chief Minister M K Stalin shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to instruct security agencies to exercise extreme caution and restraint while dealing with Indian fishermen in Indian waters.
In his letter, Stalin said 10 fishermen (seven from Tamil Nadu and three from Karaikal) had ventured for fishing in a Karaikal based mechanised fishing boat.
“I am extremely saddened by this incident that has happened by an act of the Indian Navy. You are well aware of the plight of Indian fishermen being ill-treated by Sri Lankan security forces. But, when our security forces resort to similar acts, it creates a sense of despair and insecurity in the minds of the downtrodden fisher folk,” Stalin said.
Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu are often attacked by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly “transgressing” in its water after crossing the IMBL.