India raises fisherman’s killing with Lanka, protests held among community at home
: A day after an Indian fisherman was shot dead by Sri Lankan Navy, New Delhi on Tuesday expressed concern about the killing and raised the issue with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Sources here said the government was deeply concerned over the killing and the Indian high commissioner in Colombo has broached the matter with the Lankan PM. “The Sri Lankan Navy has promised a full and thorough investigation,” the sources said.
Bridgo, a 22-year-old fisherman from Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, was fishing near the Katchatheevu islet when he was shot dead. Agency reports said hundreds of fishermen held a demonstration at Thangachimadam, refusing to accept the body until a central minister visits them and gives them an assurance that such incidents would not be repeated.
ANSARI TAKES UP ISSUE
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has ordered a thorough probe into the killing of an Indian fisherman allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy, Vice Presi- dent Hamid Ansari said on Tuesday after raising the issue with him in Jakarta.
Ansari had a bilateral meeting with Sirisena in the Indonesian capital on the sidelines of the Summit of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), hours after the incident was reported.
“Yes, it was discussed,” the vice President said when asked whether the issue came up.
PROTESTS IN TN
Protests broke out in parts of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday.
Rameswaram fishermen association president P Sesuraja alleged that the Sri Lankan navy did not even fire a warning shot.
Hundreds from the fishermen community have been sitting in protest in Rameswaram against the alleged killing and some workers belonging to the local political party, the Thamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi, climbed a cellphone tower.
The protesting fishermen have said a central minister must visit the island and give them assurance that such incidents would not happen again, Rameswaram Fishermen Association President S Emiret said.
They have also demanded the arrest of the Lankan navy men.