Indian Fisherman shot dead allegedly by Lankan Navy near Kachatheevu

07 March, Chennai

Sri Lankan Navy shot dead a fisherman from Rameswaram Tamil Nadu when he was fishing near Kachatheevu last night. Fellow fishermen brought him dead to Rameswaram government hospital.

Sri Lankan Navy shot dead 22 year old fisherman from Rameswaram Bridgo when he was fishing near Kachatheevu late last night. This has created tension in fishermen hamlets of Tamil Nadu. Sri Lankan Navy has fired at the fishermen in international waters near Kachatheevu.

Another fisherman Ditto who was injured in the firing was admitted to Rameswaram government hospital. A fisherman from Karaikal was shot dead by Lankan Navy in April 2011 and after that now such an incident has repeated.

Fishermen association has demanded immediate intervention by central government to release fishermen lodged in Lnkan jail. Earlier Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edapady K Palanisamy had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and secure the release of 85 Tamil fishermen lodged in Lankan jail and their 128 fishing boats.

Sri Lankan navy has denied involvement into the incident in which a fisherman from Tamil Nadu was killed in alleged firing by navy on Sunday. Navy spokesman Captain Akram Alavi said that its personnel are not authorised to open fire without approved from its commander.

The spokesman said they only carry out vigil along the maritime boundary between the two countries and arrest fishermen if they poach in Sri Lankan waters. His comments came as India expressed concern on the incident through its High Commission in Colombo.

The issue of fishermen have been a contentious issue between the two countries. Both sides had decided to resolve the issue through regular consultations. A high level ministerial meeting held in Colombo in January had decided to follow Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for dealing with fishermen.