One Tamil Nadu Fisherman Killed, Another Injured by Lankan Navy

Rameswaram: Five years after the sensational Italian marine case, an Indian fisherman was shot dead on Monday night allegedly by the Sri Lankan navy while he was fishing in a mechanised boat near Katchatheevu islet.

"I strongly condemned the killing by the Sri Lankan Navy. The fisherman was well within the Indian waters when Sri Lankan Navy opened fire," said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami while announcing Rs 5 lakh to family of deceased and Rs 1 lakh to family of another fisherman who has been injured.

Bridgo, a resident of Thangachimadam in central Rameswaram of Tamil Nadu, was fishing near the islet along with others when the Sri Lankan naval personnel intervened and opened fire, Fisheries Department Assistant Director Kulanchinathan said.

The external affairs ministry has reportedly expressed deep concern over the killing of Indian fisherman by the Sri Lankan Navy.

"Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka has taken up the matter with the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and the Lankan Navy has promised a full and thorough investigation in to the matter," ministry sources said.

The incident reminds of 2012 Italian marine case. Then Italian marine Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone were accused of killing two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast during an anti-piracy mission on an Italian oil tanker.

Rameswaram Fishermen Association President P Sesuraja said that more than 2,000 fishermen were fishing well within Indian waters when the Sri Lankan naval personnel came to the spot taking them by surprise.

The Lankan navy officials did not even fire a warning shot, he alleged.

Kulanchinathan said the body has been brought to the Rameswaram hospital and a case has been registered at the Jetty police station.

The Tamil Nadu government had yesterday protested the "escalation" in apprehension of its fishermen by Sri Lanka and said the Centre did "not seem to put adequate pressure" on Colombo regarding the matter.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister K Palaniswami had referred to the arrest of 32 Indian fishermen by the Lankan authorities in the last few days and said these incidents were causing hardship and mental agony to the fishermen community.

Noting that currently there were 85 fishermen and 128 fishing boats in Lankan custody, he had urged Modi to direct the External Affairs Ministry officials concerned to take concrete action through diplomatic channels to secure their release.

"It is high time Central government reacts strongly to this problem. We just can't be a mute spectator," DMK's MK Stalin on Indian fisherman shot dead by Sri Lankan Navy

(PTI inputs)