FIR against Indian Coast Guard for firing at Indian fishermen

NEW DELHI: A fisherman from Rameswaram has accused the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) personnel firing at him and his associates while they were fishing on the high seas on Monday.

Based on the fisherman's complaint a First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against the ICG.

The alleged firing incident injured two fishermen, who have been identified as K Pichai Arokiyadass and S Johnson.

Arokiyadass has alleged that ICG men fired rubber pellet bullets at them while they were fishing with three other men.

According to the fishermen, while they were fishing in Indian waters, the ICG personnel had asked them to stop, but they continued to move telling them they could not stop as they had laid the net.

Despite their explanation, the ICG personnel didn't budge and fired at them, the fishermen alleged.

One of the fishermen alleged that ICG men boarded their boat and beat them with stick and iron rods for not stopping.

The fishermen were treated at a government hospital.

Infuriated with the alleged firing incident, Rameswaram Fishermen Association has passed three resolutions.

The fishermen association has decided to begin a strike immediately, hold a protest on November 16 to demand arrest of the ICG official responsible for the firing and demand compensation for the injured fishermen.

The ICG, meanwhile, has denied the firing incident. In its clarification, the Indian Coast Guard that no injuries or bruises have been inflicted by any personnel by firing or otherwise firing incident as alleged.