Mon, Oct 28, 2013, 12:27 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Oct 28, Colombo: Sri Lanka Navy is accused of firing at a group of Indian fishermen from Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu on Saturday according to a report in The Hindu.The fishermen who have returned to the shore unharmed have told the reporters that the Navy had fired 20 rounds when they were fishing on the high seas near Aathuvai in the Sethu Canal. At least six of those bullets have hit their boat, the fishermen have said.
According to the fishermen, the Sri Lankan Navy personnel have come in a speed boat and opened fire without a warning when they were fishing near the Sethu canal off Danushkodi in the Saturday afternoon.
"The Navy did not issue any warning by opening fire in the air and straightaway fired at the boats," a fisherman has said.
They have told The Hindu that the Sri Lankan Navy had fired at least six rounds at their boat and all the six fishermen in the boat lied down in the boat for safety and were hiding for about 45 minutes.
The fishermen have snapped their nets and returned to safety and once the Navy left area after about two hours the fishermen have gone back and collected the nets.
On their return to the shore, various security agencies such as the Intelligence Bureau, Q branch, Special branch and Marine police have inquired the fishermen and obtained statements.
However, they have not found any spent bullets in the boat that was allegedly fired upon.
The fishermen have accused the Central Indian government of ignoring their problems and urged the Central and State governments to take up the issue with the Sri Lankan government and protect the livelihood of the fishermen.
