Unacceptable: India protests Lankan firing on fishermen

India lodged a strong protest with Sri Lanka after five Indian fishermen were injured in firing by the Lankan navy near Delft Island on Tuesday.

The acting high commissioner of the island nation in New Delhi was summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) while the Indian High Commission in Colombo also raised the matter with the Sri Lankan foreign ministry.

India said the use of force was not “acceptable” under any circumstances whatsoever.

In a statement, the MEA said, “An incident of firing by the Sri Lankan navy during the apprehension of 13 Indian fishermen in the proximity of Delft Island was reported in the early hours of this morning.”

The MEA said of the 13 fishermen who were on board the fishing vessel, two had sustained serious injuries and were currently receiving treatment at Jaffna Teaching Hospital.

Officials of the Indian Consulate in Jaffna visited the injured fishermen at the hospital to extend assistance to them and their families. “The Government of India has always emphasised the need to treat issues pertaining to fishermen in a humane and humanitarian manner, keeping in mind livelihood concerns,” an MEA statement said.

“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 MEA said.

The row over jurisdiction in Palk Strait continues to hit Indian fishermen. The Palk Strait — between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka’s Jaffna city — has been a source of tension between the two countries. The Lankan authorities often allege that Indian fishermen frequently cross the International Maritime Boundary Line.

According to government records, till November 22 last, 141 Indian fishermen were in Sri Lankan custody, of whom 45 fishermen were facing trial while 96 were serving sentences. Besides,198 Indian fishing vessels are in Sri Lankan custody.

In December last year, PM Modi and Sri Lankan President Dissanayake had agreed to address the issue in a “humanitarian manner”.