Sri Lanka Navy hurls petrol bombs at Tamil Nadu fishing boat

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, March 12, 2015: Sri Lankan naval personnel on Thursday allegedly hurled petrol bombs at a fishing boat from Thangachimadam in Tamil Nadu’s Rameswaram district causing damage to the boat, police said. The five occupants of the boat escaped unhurt and managed to douse the fire and bring the boat to the shore.

Police said the Lankan naval men allegedly hurled bottles and wood to chase the fishermen fishing near Katchatheevu. The ’Q’ branch wing of the police said they were investigating the incident.

The Sri Lankan President’s office had on Wednesday announced the release of 86 Indian fishermen, arrested for allegedly poaching in Lankan waters, as a goodwill gesture to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, the first by an Indian premier to the island nation in over 25 years.

That gesture, however, came only a week after Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickramesinghe sparked a controversy by saying that Indian fishermen will be shot if they cross the international borders. He even refused to consider the decision a violation of the fishermen’s human rights.

Modi is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka on March 13 and 14 and hold important bilateral meetings with President Maithripala Sirisena and other senior leaders across the political spectrum.



Courtesy: Indiatoday