NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday unequivocally criticised the incident of firing by the Sri Lankan Navy that injured five Indian fishermen near Delft Island.
After the incident, which occurred early in the morning, the ministry of external affairs summoned the Sri Lankan acting high commissioner in New Delhi and conveyed displeasure over the firing.
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“Out of the 13 fishermen who were on board the fishing vessel, two have sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. Three other fishermen received minor injuries and have been treated for the same,” said the ministry of external affairs in a press release.
The foreign ministry said Indian consulate officials in Jaffna also visited the injured fishermen at the hospital to seek their welfare and “are extending all possible assistance to the fishermen and their families”.
“Our High Commission in Colombo has also raised the matter with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sri Lankan government,” the release further said.
Reiterating India’s long-standing policy, the ministry said there’s a “need to treat issues pertaining to fishermen in a humane and humanitarian manner, keeping in mind livelihood concerns”.
“The use of force is not acceptable under any circumstances whatsoever. Existing understandings between the two Governments in this regard must be strictly observed,” it further added.
The fishermen issue is a contentious one in the ties between India and Sri Lanka, with Lankan Navy personnel even firing at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seizing their boats in several alleged incidents of illegally entering Sri Lankan territorial waters.
The Palk Strait, a narrow strip of water separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, is a rich fishing ground for fishermen from both countries.