Fisherman killed, 2 injured in Lankan firing

Chennai, Mar 10 (UNI) An Indian fisherman was shot dead and two others suffered serious bullet injuries, when Sri Lankan Navy opened fire in the high seas early this morning.

Reports received here said a group of five fishermen were fishing near Katchatheevu off Indian coast, when the Lankan Navy opened fire, killing Christopher (35), hailing from Pamban, in Rameswaram, on the spot.

Two others, Wilver (31) and Sagayaraj (27), sustained serious injuries and were admitted to the Rameswaram Government Hospital when they were brought to the shore by their fellow fishermen.

This is the fifth such attack on Indian fishermen and the second instance of a fishermen being killed in firing in the last 20 days.

One fishermen from Nagapattinam was shot dead by the Lankan Navy on February 28, while another was injured on February 26.

In earlier incidents, fishermen were injured when Navy opened fire off Pudukottai coast and Nagapattinam coast.

Today's incident comes despite Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi repeatedly taking up the issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, drawing his attention to the ''indiscriminate firing'' by the Sri Lankan Navy and asking him to take urgent action to prevent such incidents.

UNI