Indian Coast Guard did not shoot at fishermen: Nirmala Sitharaman

Chennai: Refuting the charge that a Rameswaram fisherman was shot at by Indian Coast Guard, defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman said no fishermen were fired upon by any Coast Guard ship. “No such bullet is available with the CG. I don't know from where the bullet had come. At the same time, what the fisherman had said (that he was attacked) was true. It is good for all of us to talk after a thorough enquiry”, she said. She however hastened to add, “I understand the travails of our fishermen and it needs to be found out who fired at them.”

The ICG had on Tuesday denied that its personnel opened fire and said “no fishermen have been fired upon by any CG ship in Palk Bay.” The Mandapam Coastal Security group registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) for allegedly firing at Rameswaram fishermen. 

‘Making accusations without inquiry unacceptable’ 

The Rameswaram fishermen alleged that the ICG had opened fire at them on Nov. 13. When asked about the incident, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters here on Saturday that the Coast Guard chief had informed her that the force did not have the type of bullets that were allegedly fired at Tamil Nadu fishermen. 

"I spoke to the Coast Guard authorities and those in Tamil Nadu soon after the alleged firing incident and sought details from the Coast Guard chief after seeing the reports on TV channels", she said. But the CG chief had told her that, "we don't have such bullets." "If a wrong has happened, those who did it will be definitely punished", she said and stated that making accusations without proper inquiry was unacceptable.