In a shocking incident, the Sri Lankan Navy opened fire on a group of Indian fishermen, injuring two of them, despite having valid permission to fish in the region until January 28. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday morning, has raised concerns over the safety and livelihood of fishermen operating in the Palk Strait.
The group of 13 fishermen, including six from Karaikal in Puducherry and seven from Tamil Nadu, had ventured into the sea on January 23. They had official permission to fish until January 28, as confirmed by the Puducherry Fisheries Minister K Lakshminarayanan. The fishermen were fishing near Neduntheevu (Delft Island) when the Sri Lankan Navy confronted them.
Two fishermen sustained serious injuries and are currently being treated at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital in Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, three others were treated for minor injuries. According to reports, the Navy personnel instructed the fishermen to surrender. However, fearing for their lives and the loss of their boats and livelihood, the fishermen attempted to flee. This prompted the Navy to open fire on their boats, injuring two individuals.
The fishermen’s community has expressed deep concern over such actions, highlighting that being apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy would lead to the seizure of their boats, effectively destroying their means of income. One anonymous source from the fishing community in Nagapattinam explained that the fishermen tried to avoid arrest to safeguard their livelihoods.
Minister Lakshminarayanan condemned the attack, stating that the fishermen were operating within their legal rights, as they had the required permission. He called on the Indian Government to take immediate action to prevent such attacks in the future. “We will urge the Union Government to take steps to stop such attacks,” he emphasized.
The incident has sparked diplomatic tensions between India and Sri Lanka. Following the attack, India lodged a strong protest with Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan acting high commissioner in New Delhi was summoned to the External Affairs Ministry, where a formal protest was made. Additionally, India’s High Commission in Colombo raised the matter with Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry.
This incident follows a previous agreement in December 2024, when both India and Sri Lanka pledged to avoid aggressive behavior or violence while handling issues related to fishermen crossing the maritime boundary. Despite this agreement, the recent attack has put the spotlight back on the ongoing maritime disputes between the two countries.
As the situation unfolds, both governments will likely face increasing pressure to address the safety of fishermen working in disputed waters and prevent further violence in the region.
Sources By Agencies
