High Commissioner to Sri Lanka takes up fishermen issue with Sri Lankan PM

In the wake of the killing of an Indian fisherman by the Sri Lankan Navy, the government has conveyed its deep concerns.

Sources said, High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu has taken up matter with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Government has announced Rs. five lakh for the dead and Rs. one lakh for the fisherman injured in shooting by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Condemning the killing of the fisherman, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) working president M.K. Stalin has urged the Central Government to react strongly and demanded it to hold embassy-level talks at once on the issue.

"It's high time the Central Government reacts strongly to this problem. The Central Government cannot be a mute spectator. It should take up this issue with Indian ambassador in Sri Lanka or the High Commission of Sri Lanka in India," Stalin said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Thamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi Party workers climbed a tower in protest against Sri Lankan Navy in Rameswaram.

The deceased was identified as a 22-year-old man named Pricho and his body was brought to the Rameshwaram Government Hospital at around 12:30 p.m.

As per reports, around 500 boats went for fishing on Friday evening from here and around 9 p.m.

The Sri Lankan Navy started firing in which Pricho died of the bullet injury on his neck and another man named Saravanan got injured.

Meanwhile, a case had been registered in the local police station.

According to reports, around three more fishermen have suffered injuries in the firing which occurred in Adambalam, that comes under Indian territory.

Last week, 15 Indian fishermen were detained by the Sri Lankan Navy and all their equipment and fishing gear was taken away.

The fresh incident of opening fire comes a day after Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palanisami wrote to the Centre over it not taking concrete steps in stopping the steady harassment of fishermen from Tamil Nadu.

The letter spoke in detail about how Indian fishermen were constantly being hauled by the Lankan Navy and also about their equipments and boats being seized without any law being followed.