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Two fishermen killed in firing

— Photo: M. Srinath.

a Victim: The fisherman Murali, who was injured in the firing.

NAGAPATTINAM: Two fishermen of Arcottuthurai hamlet on the Vedaranyam coast in Nagapattinam district were killed, and another fisherman was injured seriously, when a Sri Lankan Navy patrol allegedly fired at them early on Saturday, while they were fishing in the waters off Point Calimere (Kodiakarai).

S. Narayanasamy (21), B. Vasagan (24) and M. Murali (20) had ventured into the sea on Friday.

They were confronted by Sri Lankan Navy personnel on patrol duty, who fired at their mechanised boat.

While Narayanasamy and Vasagan died on the spot, Murali, who sustained serious injuries, immediately contacted a relative in Vedaranyam using his mobile phone.

Help came in the form of three mechanised boats, which brought Murali and the bodies to the shore.

Murali was rushed to the Thanjavur Medical College Hospital for treatment. The boat had 20 bullet marks.

Minister for Dairy Development U. Mathivanan, accompanied by Collector M. Jayaraman, Nagapattinam MP A.K.S. Vijayan and Vedaranyam MLA S.K. Vedarathinam, visited Vedaranyam and placed wreaths on the bodies.

The Minister and officials visited the house of the deceased and handed over cheques for Rs.1 lakh each as compensation to Selvi, mother of Narayanasamy, and Balakrishnan, father of Vasagan.

Fishermen on the 188-km coast in the district have decided to keep off sea for a few days condemning the Sri Lankan Navy action.

They urged the Centre and the State government to take immediate steps for providing protection to fishermen.

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