India condemns fisherman killing, Lanka denies role

India today strongly and unequivocally condemned the killing of another fisherman, allegedly by the Sri Lanka Navy, saying use of force must be “eschewed” in all such situations, even as Colombo rejected as “baseless” the charge that its personnel were involved.

“We have received reports of the tragic killing of another Indian fisherman allegedly due to firing by Sri Lankan Navy personnel,” a ministry statement said. External Affairs Minister S M Krishna has taken the matter “very seriously”, saying it is “unacceptable” and has sought a report from the Indian mission in Colombo, sources said.

The Minister’s office has also asked the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department to provide the details regarding the fisherman and the incident. A fisherman was killed and two others injured while fishing off Kodiakarai coast yesterday. The man, from Pushpavanam coastal hamlet, died after Sri Lankan Naval personnel allegedly tied a rope around his neck and pushed him into the water, fisheries department sources said.

This is the second incident of the kind in less than a fortnight. On January 12, an Indian fisherman was killed in the Palk Straits when Lankan Navy allegedly opened fire at three fishermen. According to sources, Krishna is expected to take up the matter with his Sri Lankan counterpart G L Peiris.