On Monday night, the Sri Lankan Navy shot an Indian Fisherman while he was fishing at the Katchatheevu islet in a mechanized boat. Kulanchintan, Assistant Director of Fisheries Department said, Bridgo, a resident of Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu was fishing along with others near the islet when Sri Lankan Navy opened fire upon them.
While Bridgo was shot in the neck and died instantly, Saravanan (22), another fisherman suffered injuries in the leg. The others who were fishing along with these two escaped unhurt and reached Indian shore at 12: 30 A.M.
Rameswaram Fishermen Association President, P. Sesuraja said that over 2,000 fishermen were fishing within the Indian waters when the Sri Lankan naval personnel opened fire taking them by surprise. He also alleged that the Lankan Navy officials did not even fire a warning shot. Kulanchinathan added that Bridgo’s body has been brought to the Rameswaram hospital and a case has been registered at the Jetty police station.
Tensions prevailed in the area as the fishermen of Thangachimadam coastal hamlet started a protest against the Lankan Navy firing incident in front of the hospital. The Tamil Nadu Government also said that the increase in a number of such incidents has not fazed the government and they did “not seem to put adequate pressure” on Colombo, Sri Lanka in regard to this issue.
Protest in Rameshwaram(TN) after an Indian fisherman was shot dead by Srilankan Navy pic.twitter.com/N9Mh8e3Rev
— ANI (@ANI_news) March 7, 2017
Tamil Nadu: Thamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi party workers climb tower in protest against Sri Lankan Navy in Rameswaram pic.twitter.com/4MUOOiTAao
— ANI (@ANI_news) March 7, 2017
DMK’s M.K. Stalin speaking about the incident said “It is high time Central government reacts strongly to this problem. We just can’t be a mute spectator.” Also, TN CM Palaniswami in a letter to the PM Narendra Modi referred to 32 Indian Fishermen’s arrest by Lankan authorities over the last few days and have been taking a toll on the mental agony and hardships of the fishermen community.
He also noted that there are at present 85 Fishermen and 128 fishing boats in the custody of the Lankan Navy and urged the Ministry of External Affairs to take concrete action through a secure channel and get these fishermen released.
