Fisherman killing: Vice-President Ansari takes up issue with SL President

New Delhi [India], Mar. 7 (ANI): Vice-President Hamid Ansari on Tuesday took up the issue of the killing of an Indian fisherman allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, who assured that such incidents won't repeat. India earlier today said the matter has been raised with the Sri Lankan Government. "Firing on five Indian fishermen is totally unacceptable. The matter has been taken up at high levels of the Sri Lankan Government through the High Commission in Colombo," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Gopal Baglay told ANI. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palanisamy also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking the Centre's intervention in connection with the incident Palanisamy said the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India should be summoned forthwith and "the strong feelings of the Government of India and the Government of Tamil Nadu about the unprovoked firing on fishermen and non-adherence to earlier agreements on this issue should be conveyed in no uncertain terms." Earlier, Sri Lanka promised to work in cooperation with India to investigate the matter, however, denying the involvement of the Navy. "Initial investigations indicate that the Sri Lanka Navy is not involved in this alleged incident. Irrespective of the parties involved, if in fact a shooting has taken place, it is a matter of grave concern, and all possible action will be taken, in cooperation with the relevant Indian authorities, to investigate into this incident, utilising GPS technology as well," said an official statement. The statement added that the Government of Sri Lanka is deeply concerned about the alleged shooting and the connected loss of life of one fisherman and injury caused to another. "The safety of fishermen is of utmost importance and the Government of Sri Lanka is firm in its commitment to ensuring that all Government agencies treat all Indian fishermen in a humane manner at all times," it said. A group of Indian fishermen, who were fishing between Danushkodi and Katchatheevu off the Tamil Nadu coast, were allegedly fired upon by the Sri Lankan Navy in which one fisherman was killed. As per reports, around 500 boats went for fishing on Friday evening from Rameshwaram. The Sri Lankan navy started firing in which Pricho died of the bullet injury on his neck and another man named Saravanan got injured. (ANI)