Sri Lanka has assured India of cooperation in the investigation into the shooting of a Rameswaram-based fisherman K. Britjo, on Monday.
Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said initial investigations indicated that the Sri Lankan Navy “was not involved in the incident”, but noted that irrespective of the parties involved, it was a matter of grave concern.
Late Monday, a group of fishermen returned to the Rameswaram jetty with the body of 21-year-old fisherman K. Bristo, and pointed to an apparent bullet injury on his neck. Fishermen leaders based in Tamil Nadu said he was among the six fishermen on board a mechanised trawler that the "Sri Lankan Navy targeted".
Extends cooperation
“All possible action will be taken, in cooperation with the relevant Indian authorities, to investigate this incident utilising GPS technology as well,” an official statement said.
On allegations that the Sri Lankan Navy opened fire, its spokesman, Lieutenant-Commander Chaminda Walakuluge, told The Hindu : “No Navy personnel is authorised to shoot poaching fishermen. They cannot open fire without a clearance from the Navy Commander. They only have permission to round up trawlers found poaching, and arrest the fishermen,”
Responding to reports that small boats of the Sri Lankan Navy targeted the Tamil Nadu fishermen, the Navy, in an official statement, said its patrols in the northern waters were conducted by fast attack craft and fast gunboats.
“At no time are small boats being engaged for patrols off the northern waters, since Indian trawlers are quite large,” it said.
Asked if the Navy had heard of the shooting incident from its personnel, the Lieutenant-Commander said that while he saw media reports, there was no such update from his patrol teams.
In 2011, a similar shooting incident claimed two Tamil fishermen’s lives at the Palk Bay. Tamil Nadu fishermen accused the Sri Lankan Navy of opening fire, which the navy denied.
The issue of Tamil Nadu fishermen allegedly poaching in Sri Lanka’s territorial waters has been an ongoing conflict, with Sri Lanka’s northern fishermen repeatedly raising concerns over their falling catch and the serious environmental damage caused by trawlers originating from India.
As of Tuesday, as many as 85 Indian fishermen charged of poaching are in Sri Lankan custody. A total of 146 trawlers seized by the navy have also been held, officials said.
