Fisherman injured in ‘misfire’ by Navy vessel

Mumbai: The boat from which the fishing vessel from Uttan was fired at, resulting in an injury to one fisherman, was an immediate support vessel (ISV) of the Indian Navy that had to resort to warning shots as the civilian vessel was too close to the Bombay High oil rig.

The Navy claims one of the bullets ricocheted and hit the fisherman. The Yellow Gate police has, meanwhile, registered an attempt to murder case and is investigating the incident.

The incident took place at around 5 pm on Sunday roughly 37 nautical miles off Mumbai when the fishing boat Christwell came close to the offshore development area (ODA) of Bombay High. The ODA is protected by the Navy and the Coast Guard round the clock and is kept free of other marine traffic. The Christwell, which had left Uttan in Thane on a fishing expedition along with 10 to 15 other boats on Saturday afternoon, was spotted by the ISV T-14, manned by five Navy men.

“T-14 approached Christwell and asked them to leave citing security and safety reasons. The fishermen had already dunked their nets into the water and sought around 20 more minutes. This led to a small argument and one of the Navy men, who was dressed in civilian clothes, opened fire and discharged four rounds. One of the bullets hit Shushant Agnelo Luji (22) in the right shoulder,” said an officer from Yellow Gate police station.

Shushant was first taken to the ONGC oil rig for treatment by the ISV and later flown to Mumbai where he was admitted to Nanavati Hospital by 9 pm Sunday.