Minister distributes Rs 5,000 each to 2 injured fishermen

Tamil Nadu IT Minister M Manikandan today distributed Rs 5,000 each to two fishermen, injured after being hit by a stray bullet allegedly fired in a training exercise by Indian Coast Guard in the sea near here.
The Coast Guard has denied the incident.
Speaking to reporters here, he said the Chief Minister has taken up the issue with Union defence Minister Nirmala Sitaraman and Prime Minister to ensure that such incidents did not recur and the fishermen were given proper protection.
The Minister was accompanied by collector S Natarajan when he visited the fishermen in the hospital.
Later the Indian Coast Guard held a reconcilation meeting with the fishermen, who have been agitating over the issue.

The bullet allegedly fired by the Coast Guard is suspected to have been shot off target and hit the duo, who were fishing at nearby Devil's island yesterday.
Yesterday, Tamil Nadu Coastal Marine Police registered a case against the coast guard personnel under various sections of IPC, including 307 (murder), and Arms Act on a complaint by the injured.