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Fisherman killed in firing in deep sea

MADURAI: A fisherman of Bagyanathapuram in Thathaneri Madurai was killed, allegedly in firing in deep sea near Kachatheevu on Saturday.

According to reports from Rameswaram, Murugan (32) along with three others – Doraisamy, Ramamurthy and Lingam of Ramanathapuram district – was fishing in a boat belonging to Valivittan.

The fishermen said that while they were fishing, Sri Lankan Navy personnel allegedly opened fire in which Murugan received bullets in the back and died. The body was brought to the shores in the wee hours of Sunday.

Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi sanctioned Rs. 3 lakh solatium for the fisherman’s family. Revenue Divisional Officer Poonkodi handed over the cheque to the next of kin of Murugan, an official release said.

A large number of fishermen assembled in front of the Government Hospital at Rameswaram when Murugan’s body arrived. They shouted slogans against the Sri Lankan Navy for the brutal killing. Tension prevailed in the area for sometime.

However, there was no untoward incident, police said. Later, the body was taken to Madurai.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had taken up the issue of firing at fishermen with his counterpart in Sri Lanka and appealed to him to ensure the safety of Indian fishermen. However, within a month, another firing incident had taken place, the fishermen charged.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai, P.M. Amsa, denied the involvement of Sri Lankan Navy personnel in the firing. Talking to The Hindu over phone he said he had contacted Vice Admiral Wasantha Karanagoda, Commander Sri Lankan Navy, in Colombo in this regard. “The authorities had carried out an oral inquiry and maintained that their personnel were not involved,” Mr. Amsa said.

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