Lok Sabha Question No. 607 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-09
Subject: Injury of a Fisherman in Palk Bay
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Gautham Sigamani Pon

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

## DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 607

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09 th  December, 2022

## INJURY OF A FISHERMAN IN PALK BAY

## 607. DR. PON GAUTHAM SIGAMANI:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether a fisherman was injured while fishing in Palk Bay in firing of warning shots by Indian Navy in the early hours of 21.10.2022;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether the Government of Tamil Nadu has demanded to exercise extreme caution while dealing with Indian fishermen in Indian waters by National security agencies;
- (d)  if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## A  N  S  W  E  R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

- (a):  Yes, Sir.
- (b):  Indian  Navy  Ship  Bangaram  was  deployed  in  Palk  Bay  {near  India  -  Sri  Lanka International  Maritime  Boundary  Line  (IMBL)}  for  ensuring  security  of  coastal  areas  of Tamil Nadu as well as the Indian fishing boats operating in the area. At about 0215h on 21 Oct 22, the naval ship detected two trawlers secured with each other operating very close to India - Sri Lanka IMBL. The trawlers were observed throwing articles/ packages in water. The naval ship challenged both the suspicious trawlers using signal projector/ LRAD (Long Range  Acoustic  Device)  in  both  Tamil  and  English  language.  Consequently,  both  the trawlers disengaged, increased speed and manoeuvred to evade from the naval ship. One of the  trawlers  altered  East  and  crossed  over  to  the  Sri  Lankan  side  of  IMBL.  The  second trawler  altered  on  Westerly  heading  inside  Indian  side  of  IMBL  and  was  pursued  by  the naval  ship  from  0230h  to  0330h.  The  trawler  did  not  heed  to  repeated  warnings  (both  in Tamil  and  English)  and  at  about  0330h,  based  on  the  suspicious  actions  by  the  trawler especially its approach towards Indian  territory,

(SHRI AJAY BHATT)

which was construed as a threat to security, warning shots were fired by the ship across the bows  of  the  trawler  in  accordance  with  the  established  procedures.  The  trawler  {later identified as Indian flagged trawler SV Sadana (Regd No. IND-TN-06MM831)} stopped at about 0415h and indicated to the naval ship that one personnel onboard had sustained injury. Prompt  medical  assistance  was  provided  by  the  ship  to  stabilise  the  injured  fisherman onboard  the  trawler.  Concurrently,  HQTNA  was  requested  for  aerial  casualty  evacuation, and  the  injured  fisherman  was  evacuated  by  the  Navy's  Chetak  helicopter  at  0640h  off Rameshwaram and was subsequently shifted to General Hospital, Madurai on 21 Oct 22.

(c):  Yes, Sir.

(d) & (e):  Formal investigation by a Board of Inquiry (BoI) has been ordered. In addition, interactions  with  local  fishing  community  have  been  carried  out  by  Naval  authorities, wherein fishermen have been sensitised to the prevailing security environment in  the area and  the  need  to  work  in  tandem  with  Indian  Naval  ships  for  maintaining  their  safety  and security.

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