A 22-year-old Indian fisherman was shot dead early on Tuesday early morning allegedly by the Sri Lankan navy while he was fishing in a mechanised boat at a short distance off Katchatheevu islet in the Indian Ocean, fisheries department officials said.
The Tamil Nadu government announced Rs 5 lakh compensation for the deceased and Rs 1 lakh for another fisherman who received injuries on his leg in the firing.
Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu has taken up the matter with the Sri Lankan Prime Minister. The Sri Lankan navy has also promised an investigation into the killing, said NDTV, quoting government sources.
Bridgo was shot in the neck and died on the spot, Fisheries Department Assistant Director Kulanchinathan said.
Rameswaram Fishermen Association President P Sesuraja told PTI 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.
Urging the Centre to act strongly after the killing of the fisherman, DMK’s working president MK Stalin said that it is “high time” for the government to “react strongly to this problem” and that it can’t remain “a mute spectator”.
Meanwhile, protests broke out in Rameswaram against the Sri Lankan Navy.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI.)