News
Defiant Indian fishermen accused of provoking naval dustup
View(s):- Navy says Indian fishermen tried to disarm two officers when they boarded the bottom trawler
By S Rubatheesan
The recent ‘accidental discharge’ of a Navy firearm on Indian fishermen in Sri Lanka’s waters illegally, despite repeated warnings this week, has led to diplomatic tensions and raised again the urgency of solving the longstanding Indo-Sri Lanka fisheries conflict.
Two Indian fishermen who were injured when the navy tried to arrest them mid-sea for illegal poaching in territorial waters were admitted to Jaffna Teaching Hospital after being produced before Mallakam Magistrate’s Courts.
The court was told on Tuesday the fishermen had sustained minor burn injuries to their legs. The remaining 9 fishermen are remanded until February 10.
Altogether 4 Indian fishermen are in hospital. Two were injured when an accidental firing happened allegedly when they tried to grab the weapon of a Navy officer.
According to the Navy, the boarding team was compelled to conduct noncompliance boarding of the Indian trawler on Monday midnight as one bottom trawler with 13 Indian fishermen continued to manoeuvre aggressively, defying Navy orders.
“Indian fishermen, as an organised group, have attempted to assault naval personnel and made an attempt to snatch a firearm from a naval officer, endangering the lives of the naval personnel,’’ the Sri Lanka Navy said in a statement. In the process, an accidental firing has taken place causing “slight injuries’’ to two Indian fishermen.
Hours after the incident, India’s Ministry of External Affairs summoned Sri Lanka’s Acting High Commissioner in New Delhi to make a strong protest, according to a statement by the Indian High Commission in Colombo. “Our High Commission in Colombo has also raised the matter with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sri Lankan government,” the statement said.
India has always emphasised the need to treat issues of fishermen in a humane and humanitarian manner, keeping in mind livelihood concerns, the statement said. “The use of force is not acceptable under any circumstances whatsoever. Existing understandings between the two Governments in this regard must be strictly observed,” it said.
When Jaffna District National People’s Power MP K Ilankumaran visited the injured fishermen in hospital, they acknowledged that they were warned by Navy patrols to leave Sri Lanka’s territorial waters and the incident occurred when they tried to return.
One of the arrested fishermen, employed as a labourer, told the MP that they sail into Sri Lanka’s waters for a better catch since there is not enough fish on the Indian side. “When we fish more than the target amount, we also get a percent from the catch as well,” he had said.
Regretting the incident, the Jaffna District legislator said that the incident occurred when the Indian fishermen tried to smuggle the sailors on board as the trawler was engaged in aggressive manoeuvres.
“While we understand that they are not the owners of the trawlers but mere labourers who get paid based on the fish catch, we have told them that we cannot accept bottom trawling, a banned fishing practice at the expense of the livelihood of our fishermen. Their fishing nets and equipment were destroyed due to trawling nets,” MP Ilankumaran told reporters.
He said since the NPP came to power, the Navy has stepped up patrols in the northern sea and arrested more fishermen and seized bottom trawlers.
“Fisherfolk communities demand that we protect their livelihood, not to let them down like the previous government. Therefore, government authorities will continue to enforce the law and bottom trawlers will be seized, while arrested fishermen will be sent back as usual,” the MP stressed.
Last year at least 540 Indian fishermen were taken into custody for engaging in bottom trawling in northern waters. In January, at least 60 fishermen have been arrested.
At a press briefing in Colombo this week, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda said the two Indian fishermen were injured mid-sea due to an accidental firing of a gun during a struggle. He said the Navy boarded the bottom trawler after it had failed to respond to visual and audio warnings to leave the area.
When a Navy officer and a sailor approached the pilothouse, the Indian fishermen on board surrounded them and attempted to disarm the officers. During the ensuing struggle, the firearm of a Navy officer accidentally fired, injuring two of the fishermen, Vice Admiral Banagoda said stressing that the trajectory of the bullet suggested the discharge was accidental, as it occurred at a low angle.
Meanwhile, the Mannar Magistrate’s Courts on Friday further remanded 17 Indian fishermen taken into custody from December 24 until February 7.
The best way to say that you found the home of your dreams is by finding it on Hitad.lk. We have listings for apartments for sale or rent in Sri Lanka, no matter what locale you're looking for! Whether you live in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna and more - we've got them all!