ECONOMYNEXT – An accidental firing at an operation to arrest poaching Indian fishermen in Sri Lanka’s northern waters has injured two Indian fishermen, the island nation’s navy said amid strong Indian protests over the incident.
Illegal fishing by Indian fishing boats in Sri Lanka’s Northern waters has been continuing for decades despite the arrest of Indian fishermen and confiscation of multi-day boats they use.
The latest incident of firing took place during the apprehension of 13 Indian fishermen in the North.
Both the Navy and Indian High Commission in Colombo said two fishermen out of the 13 who were on board the fishing vessel, sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital.
The incident near Jaffna occurred when the Northern Naval Command observed a cluster of Indian fishing boats poaching in the Sri Lankan waters in the dark hours of Monday (27), the Navy said in a statement.
“Subsequently, the Northern Naval Command mounted a special operation to send away those fishing boats from the island waters, deploying naval craft,” it said in its website.
“During this operation, the Navy seized an Indian fishing boat continued to remain in Sri Lankan waters, while marshalling illegal fishing activities and collecting the fishing harvest. The operation also led to the apprehension of 13 Indian fishermen aboard the fishing boat.”
The Navy said their boarding team was compelled to conduct “noncompliance boarding” as the Indian fishing boat continued to maneuver aggressively, without complying with the Navy’s lawful orders and its duty, during the process of taking the boat into custody.
“On this occasion, the Indian fishermen have acted aggressively, maneuvering their fishing boat in a hostile manner and behaving confrontationally with the Navy.”
“However, while boarding the fishing boat, in accordance with the authority vested in the Navy, the Indian fishermen, as an organized 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. In the process, an accidental fire has taken place, causing slight injuries to two Indian fishermen.
The Indian government reacted to the incident by calling the Sri Lankan Acting High Commissioner in New Delhi to the Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi to express its “strong protest” over the incident.
“Government of India has always emphasized the need to treat issues pertaining to fishermen in a humane and humanitarian manner, keeping in mind livelihood concerns,” the Indian High Commission said in a statement.
“The use of force is not acceptable under any circumstances whatsoever. Existing understandings between the two Governments in this regard must be strictly observed.”
The fishermen issue has been dragged with the poaching and bottom trawling by Indian fishermen depleting the fish resources to Sri Lankan fishermen, local officials have said. (Colombo/January 28/2025)
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