Recently, Indian Navy personnel shot at an Indian fishing boat injuring a fisherman, causing a wave of shock to the entire fishing community. They are convinced it is a case of a fence on the crop and say it makes them feel insecure.
Recently, Indian Navy personnel shot at an Indian fishing boat injuring a fisherman, causing a wave of shock to the entire fishing community. They are convinced it is a case of a fence on the crop and say it makes them feel insecure.
After this there is a feeling of restlessness in the coastal settlements Recent shooting of a fisherman by the Indian Navy in Pak Bay, In Vanagiri in Mayiladuthurai district, K. The original fishing village of Virvel (30), who was injured in the firingInitial mistrust has given way to anger and helplessness.
The most pressing question among the villagers was this: How could the Indian Navy, whom they saw as their protector, display such “high-fidelity” – the same thing they allege their Sri Lankan counterparts? Is it now facing a double whammy?
Relatives of injured Mayiladuthurai fisherman seek response from Indian Navy for firing
“Why did our own men have to shoot our fishermen, I want the government to bring me answers and put an end to this haunting mystery,” said Veervel’s tearful wife Madhumati at the Madurai government hospital, where her husband was undergoing treatment.
After being shot in the stomach and thigh, Virvel went on a journey with his family in a mechanized vessel to earn some more money to celebrate Diwali.
A few hours after the shootings in the early hours of October 21, a statement from Press Information Bureau (Defense Wing) said a naval ship, which was patrolling in the Pak Gulf near the India Sri Lanka International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), spotted a “suspicious boat” and fired warning shots “as per standard operating procedure”. The boat failed to heed repeated warnings to stop. One of the crew on board the fishing vessel was injured and was given first aid by the ship’s crew before being evacuated to INS Parundu in Ramanathapuram by a Chetak helicopter of the Indian Navy. “An inquiry has been ordered to probe the incident,” the statement said.
But the fishermen question the Navy’s claim of firing only a warning shot. “The boat had national flags on it and yet it was attacked,” he says. The fishermen’s mechanized vessel, which is now stationed near the naval contingent in Nagapattinam harbour, has bullet marks. According to sources, “There were at least 47 bullet marks on the sides of the boat.”
Indian Navy personnel meet injured fishermen.
According to the account of nine injured fishermen, six of whom were from Mayiladuthurai, one from Nagapattinam and the other two from Karaikal, the attack simply came out of the blue. Mahendran, one of the fishermen, remembers the flash light being waved from afar before the gunshot. The situation suddenly turned dangerous when one of his companions was screaming in pain after being shot. Soon a helicopter along with naval personnel quickly pulled out the injured Virvel.
Other panicked fishermen continued to experience a harrowing time even after the evacuation as naval personnel reportedly started a scuffle with them. “They attacked us with an iron pipe,” one of the injured fishermen told Commodore Vishal Gupta, the commanding officer of INS Adyar, who led a team that went into the incident with the fishermen undergoing treatment at the Government Headquarters Hospital in Nagapattinam. Had to inquire about. “We were punched and kicked,” said another. According to hospital dean V. Viswanathan, all the nine fishermen are being treated for internal injuries. The Navy team also conducted extensive inspection of the fishing vessel.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention in the matter. In a letter written a few hours after the incident, CM Stalin expressed grief over the incident and requested the Prime Minister to instruct Indian security agencies to exercise restraint and extreme caution while dealing with Indian fishermen in Indian waters.
Commando Vishal Gupta (second from right), Commanding Officer, INS Adyar, inspecting a boat on which naval patrols opened fire, at Nagapattinam. , photo credit: special arrangement
“You are well aware of the plight of the Indian fishermen that they are being mistreated by the Sri Lankan security forces. But, when our security forces resort to similar acts, it creates a sense of despair and insecurity in the minds of the Dalit fishermen,” observed CM Stalin, reflecting the mood of the fishermen.
Anita R Radhakrishnan, Minister of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry in Madurai, said, “It used to be the Sri Lankan Navy which used to do such work, but it is a matter of deep regret that this time it is our Indian Navy personnel.” Chief Minister Stalin announced a compensation of ₹2 lakh to Veervel’s family from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund and it was handed over by Mr. Radhakrishnan. Political parties and fishermen associations have also demanded adequate compensation to Veervel and other injured fishermen.
Meanwhile, Vedaranyam Marine Police registered a case of attempt to murder against unidentified Navy personnel on board the patrol vessel. Acting on a complaint by Selvakumar, one of the fishermen aboard the fishing boat, the police booked naval personnel under sections 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons), 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons) and 307. A case has been registered against Section 27(1) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 27(1) of the Arms Act.
Despite the apparent sense of anger, the restraint shown by the fishermen has been a cause of immense relief. The villagers had planned agitations in the district headquarters of Mayiladuthurai and Nagapattinam, but Velayaudham advised them to exercise restraint. Nattaro‘ Or representatives of fishermen and other elders in a group of fishing settlements. Initially, posters were also put up in which people were asked to be ready for the agitation demanding justice. The fishermen are now on “wait and see” mode to see how the investigation by the Navy progresses.
The fishermen associations in Rameswaram, Mandapam and Thangachimadam insist that strict action should be taken against the naval personnel involved. talking to HinduFisherman leader Jesu Raja alleged that it was nothing but an open lie to say that the firing was only a ‘warning shot’ by naval personnel. He exclaimed, “Despite the Indian national flag being seen in the ship, the Navy opened fire… What was the impetus to open the fire is the prime question, when the ship was under our own territorial jurisdiction… “. “Above all, the tricolor was flying high and visible,” he said.
Another fisherman leader at Mandapam, Sagayam wondered that even though we can agree that it was only a ‘warning shot’ that led to naval personnel attacking the fishermen on the boat. “It was as if the Navy personnel had treated the fishermen like an enemy,” he said.
“The Navy personnel, who were supposed to be protectors, behaved in an autocratic manner and their act was highly condemnable. It is nothing but an atrocity. They should be pulled as per the law,” the fishermen representatives expressed satisfaction. “The fishermen look to the government for help and such coercive attacks only cause serious distress among them,” said Jesu Raja.
V Madhumati, wife of Veervel, an injured fisherman at Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai. , photo credit: G. Sculpture
The fisheries department officials, who have remained silent on the incident, however, regret that many fishermen do not heed their requests and at times give stern warnings not to come close to IMBL. “It was not right on the part of the fishermen to venture into the Palk Bay, which separates Indian and Sri Lankan waters,” he observes.
Fishermen, worrying about getting a good catch and making both ends meet, often throw caution to the wind. Economic turmoil in Sri Lanka It is believed to have provided an opportunity to a section of fishermen to obtain economic benefits through the sale of fuel, turmeric and other commodities. It has also become a reason for suspicion of illegal movement of goods (smuggling). Fisheries department officials say they have no scope to monitor the mechanized boats for the amount of fuel to catch fish for several days.
In addition, the fishermen carry groceries and all other provisions. A senior fisheries department official said, “It is practically impossible to prevent fishermen from carrying essential commodities needed to sustain life for a multi-day fishing period, which varies from time to time. “
(with inputs from R Jayashree)