By Naysa Shrivastava
On 28 January, Tuesday, India started a protest against the Sri Lankan Navy after Indian fishermen sustained injuries because the Navy people fired at them. The incident occurred when a Sri Lankan Navy team made an attempt to arrest the fishermen for allegedly fishing in the Sri Lankan waters near Delft Island.
The Ministry of External Affairs called the Acting High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in New Delhi and expressed condemnation about the incident. “ Our High Commision in Colombo is also in touch with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sri Lankan government and has raised the issue, two of our fishermen are critically injured and three have sustained minor injuries.” MEA mentioned in a statement.
In reply to this statement the foreign ministry gave assurance that Indian officials in Jaffna have been sent to meet the injured fishermen and we will provide all possible aid. “ We are extending all facilities for the fishermen and their families.” Foreign ministry said in a statement.
After the protest the Lankan government reverted and claimed that the team was forced to perform dissent boarding as the Indian boat was moving aggressively, ignoring the rules and regulations of the Navy while the boat was getting taken into custody. “ The Indian fishermen acted violently with the Navy personnels and tried to snatch the firearm to attack him. In the act of not giving the gun to the fishermen an accidental fire happened because of which two fishermen got hurt. The Navy has also filed a complaint with the Kankesanthurai Police”, Lakan government, on the incident.
Recalling India’s long-established policy, the ministry said that there is a need to consider casualties related to the fishermen in a humane sense and their treatment should be the first priority as it is about the livelihood of a person.