Negombo fishing leader shot dead by Indian Police

(October, 06, Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka Guardian) The leader of the Negombo fisherman society was shot dead by the Thamilnadu police in the Madurai prison yard yesterday at 3.30 p.m.

The victim was Canitius Fernando 44 years. He went to visit the four fishermen from Negombo, who were taken into custody by the Thamilnadu coastal guards while they were fishing in the Thamilnadu waters and were detained in the Madurai prison on court orders. The victim has gone to the prison with the valid documents and with the permission to visit the detainees. He had called over at the prison little early and was roaming at the gate till the gate is opened for visitors. In the mean time, the policeman who was guarding at the gate had questioned and an argument had erupted between the two, and the policeman had opened fire at him.

A special higher police team from Chennai has arrived prison to inquire into the incident. The Sri Lanka High Commission is making arrangements to bring the body to Sri Lanka.