Even as the Indian government expressed deep concern over the killing of an Indian fisherman allegedly by the Sri Lanka Navy, the island nation denied that any such incident took place.
Vice President Hamid Ansari, who met Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on the sidelines of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) leaders' summit in Jakarta, took up the issue with him. However, Sirisena told Ansari that he had spoken to the commander of the Sri Lankan Navy, who denied any role of the force in the killing.
The Sri Lankan president has ordered a full and complete enquiry into the incident. The Sri Lankan Navy also has promised a full and thorough investigation. New Delhi had earlier taken up the matter with the Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Sources said that the vice president had candidly conveyed to Srisena that something must be done by Sri Lanka about the recurring problem related to the Tamil fishermen as part of confidence-building measures.
A 22-year-old Indian fisherman was shot dead on Monday as he was fishing in a mechanised boat off Katchatheevu islet.
Apart from this incident, as many as 76 Indian fishermen are in captivity of Sri Lanka. The incidents related to the Tamil fishermen have been leading to rise in passions in Tamil Nadu off and on.
Meanwhile, DMK working president M.K. Stalin wrote to the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, saying the killing of an Indian fisherman had violated agreements arrived at the tripartite talks and had led to the feeling of "displeasure" against the Centre.
Batting for steps to retrieve Katchatheevu islet, ceded to the island nation by India in the 1970s, he said it was the only solution for the problems of fishermen.
(With inputs from PTI)
