Rameshwaram: The Indian government on Tuesday conveyed its deep concerns to the Sri Lankan authorities hours after latter's Navy fired upon Indian fishermen and killed one of them off the Tamil Nadu coast.
News agency ANI quoted highly placed sources as saying that the Indian government is deeply concerned at the killing of an Indian fisherman. Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka has taken up matter with Sri Lankan PM, sources said.
The source added that Sri Lankan Navy has promised a full and thorough investigation into the incident.
Meanwhile, protests erupted in Tamil Nadu's Rameswaram after 22-year-old Britso, a fisherman from Thangachimadam, was shot dead allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy.
Britso was killed while he was fishing in a mechanised boat at a short distance off Katchatheevu islet. Two more fishermen reportedly suffered injuries in the firing.
Hundreds of fishermen staged a demonstration at Thangachimadam, demanding the arrest of the of the Lankan navy men involved in the incident.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government also announced ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the dead and 1 lakh for the two fishermen injured in shooting by Sri Lankan Navy.
A small group of Indian fishermen were fishing between Danushkodi and Katchatheevu off the Tamil Nadu coast when they were allegedly fired upon by the Sri Lankan Navy in which one fisherman was killed.
Upset with the incident, MK Stalin-led DMK - the main opposition party- has called for urgent action.
It is high time that the Central Government reacts strongly to this problem, we just can't be a mute spectator, MK Stalin, DMK said.
Protest in Rameshwaram(TN) after an Indian fisherman was shot dead by Srilankan Navy pic.twitter.com/N9Mh8e3Rev
— ANI (@ANI_news) March 7, 2017
The deceased was identified as a 22-year-old man named Pricho and his body was brought to the Rameshwaram Government Hospital at around 12:30 pm.
As per reports, around 500 boats went for fishing on Friday evening from here and around 9 pm.
The Sri Lankan Navy started firing in which Pricho died of the bullet injury on his neck and another man named Saravanan got injured.
Meanwhile, a case had been registered in the local police station.
According to reports, around three more fishermen have suffered injuries in the firing which occurred in Adambalam, that comes under Indian territory.
Last week, 15 Indian fishermen were detained by the Sri Lankan Navy and all their equipment and fishing gear was taken away.
The fresh incident of opening fire comes a day after Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisamy wrote to the Centre over it not taking concrete steps in stopping the steady harassment of fishermen from Tamil Nadu.
The letter spoke in detail about how Indian fishermen were constantly being hauled by the Lankan Navy and also about their equipments and boats being seized without any law being followed.
With ANI inputs
