Lankan Navy fires at Indian trawler, wounds fisherman

Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, June 30 (UNI) An Indian fisherman was injured in unprovoked firing by Sri Lankan Navy, at mid sea, near Katchatheevu Island, today.

Official sources said here a group of 721 mechanized fishing trawlers from here set sail for fishing this morning.

While they were fishing near Katchatheevu Island, a Sri Lankan Naval Vessel opened fire on one of the boats this afternoon.

In the firing, S Maris (19) of Uchchipuli Coastal Hamlet in Rameswaram suffered a bullet injury on his upper arm. Other crew members of the boat managed to escape.

The injured fisherman was brought to the shore and admitted to the government hospital here. His condition was stable, the sources added.

Meanwhile, tension prevailed among fishing folk in Rameswaram Town over the incident. Police pickets have been posted in sensitive pockets to defuse tense situation.

An Indian fisherman, M Sandhyagu (21), was shot dead by Sri Lankan Navy at mid sea on June two last drawing widespread protests from various political parties and fishermen associations.

UNI GSM GM RL HT1945