Reg No. - CHHBIL/2010/41479ISSN - 2582-919X
5 Indian fishermen injured in Sri Lankan Navy firing, MEA summons Sri Lankan High Commissioner
5 Indian fishermen injured in Sri Lankan Navy firing-Indian Navy
Five Indian fishermen were injured in firing by the Sri Lankan Navy near Delft Island on Tuesday January 27, 2025 morning. Two of them are said to be in critical condition. India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has reacted strongly to the incident and has summoned the acting High Commissioner of Sri Lanka, expressing formal protest against the action.
Five Indian fishermen were injured in Sri Lankan Navy firing near Delft Island on Tuesday morning, two of whom are said to be in critical condition. While three other fishermen have suffered minor injuries. India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has reacted strongly to this incident and has summoned the acting High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to lodge a formal protest against this action.
Terming the action as unacceptable, the MEA said that 13 Indian fishermen who had gone out to fish near Delft Island from Karaikal port in the early hours of Tuesday morning were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on charges of crossing the maritime border. During this, information was received about the firing incident by the Sri Lankan Navy.
According to the statement, the group of fishermen was fishing near Paruthi Thurai when they were surrounded by a Sri Lankan Navy patrol boat. The Sri Lankan Navy arrested a fishing boat and 13 fishermen on charges of crossing the maritime border. The Sri Lankan Navy allegedly opened fire when the fishermen tried to take the boat towards Tamil Nadu, in which a Sri Lankan naval officer was also aboard. One fisherman was shot in the leg, while the other was injured by the blow of some object. The arrested fishermen were handed over to the Kangesanthurai police.
The Ministry of External Affairs said in its statement, “Two of the 13 fishermen on board the fishing boat have sustained serious injuries and are currently undergoing treatment at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital.”
The MEA said three more fishermen on board the same vessel suffered minor injuries and have been admitted to the hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, officials of the Indian Consulate in Jaffna have met the injured fishermen and assured them of all possible help.