By IANS,
New Delhi : Indian fishermen inadvertently crossing over into Sri Lanka’s territorial waters are sometimes subjected to harassment by the Sri Lankan Navy, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said here Sunday.
He also said killing fishermen is not acceptable in any circumstances.
“I am aware of the problem of the fishermen,” Mukherjee told reporters here when his attention was drawn towards the increased incidents of harassment of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy.
Sometimes the fishermen are subjected to harassment, the minister said.
“We have standing arrangement with the Sri Lankan authority and we are repeatedly sensitising it.”
Recalling his talks with Sri Lankan authorities during his visit to Colombo earlier this year, Mukherjee said: “I made it quite clear that killing fishermen is acceptable under no circumstances.
“You may have your problem but simply you cannot pull a bullet on an innocent person who might have crossed the boundary and entered into your territory,” the minister added.