India asks SL navy to desist shooting Indian fishermen

(January 23, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian)  [PTI] Voicing concern over alleged attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today asked the defence force of that country not to open fire on the Indian fishermen but apprehend them if they had done something wrong.

"There is no point in shooting them (Indian fishermen)," he told reporters after meeting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi at his residence here to discuss the issue.

Mukherjee asked the Sri Lankan Navy to desist from opening fire on Indian fishermen and said if they (the Indian fishermen) had done something wrong (like crossing International Maritime Boundary Line), they should be apprehended and due procedures followed.

The Union Minister said he had assured Karunanidhi he would take up the matter with the foreign ministry, which in turn would raise it with Lankan authorities to ensure such incidents did not recur.
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