Indian Navy's 'warning shot' injures Tamil Nadu fisherman; probe ordered

The Indian Navy on Friday shot and injured a fisherman from Tamil Nadu citing breach of warnings in Palk Bay bay near the India-Sri Lanka International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).

The fisherman's condition was later confirmed as stable by officials.

Ordering a probe into the incident, the Indian Navy in a statement said that the shots were fired at the boat as per the standard operating procedure (SOP) and the injured boatman was hospitalized.

The Navy said that the boat appeared suspicious, and did not stop despite repeated warnings.

The boat was intercepted by the Indian Navy ship on patrol in Palk Bay near the India Sri Lanka International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) in the early hours of Friday.

Indian fishermen usually sail to the Lankan waters citing 'depletion of fish population' in Indian waters. In the past, there have been instances of Sri Lankan Navy firing at the Indian boatmen. But Colombo now seizes Indian fishermen's boats, opposed to the erstwhile policy of returning the boats.

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