Five Indian fishermen from Rameswaran in Tamil Nadu were attacked by Sri Lankan navy personnel on Saturday whilst fishing near Katchatheevu, reports PTI.
According to the president of the Rameshwaram Fishermen Association, T Sasuraja, the navy personnel fired into the air, warning the fishermen not to fish in those waters, before proceeding to destroy some of the fishing nets.
The incident comes as the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, visited Sri Lanka and met with President Sirisena.
The fishermen issue is one of “humanitarian concern”, Mr Modi was quoted by The Hindu as saying on Friday.
“It is also important that fishermen's associations of India and Sri Lanka meet at the earliest to find a mutually acceptable arrangement. It can then be taken forward by both governments," he added.
Last week, the Sri Lankan prime minister Ranil Wickremasinghe was criticised by members of the Indian parliament for defending the Sri Lankan navy's shooting of Indian fishermen in an interview with Thanthi TV.
"If someone tries to break into my house, I can shoot. If he gets killed...Law allows me to do that," Mr Wickremasinghe said.
Defending his comments, Sri Lanka's foreign minister, Mangala Samaraweera told The Hindu: “PM Wickremsinghe merely reflected the frustration felt by many of the fishermen locally, nothing more."
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