Fishermen firing row: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says it needs to be looked into

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today said the Coast Guard chief had informed her that they did not have the type of bullets that were allegedly fired at Tamil Nadu fishermen on Monday.

Sitharaman said she spoke to Coast Guard (CG) authorities and those in Tamil Nadu soon after the alleged firing incident.

She sought details from the Coast Guard chief after seeing the reports on TV channels, the minister said on the sidelines of a CII event.

In reply to a question, she told reporters that the CG chief said that "we don't have such bullets".

"If a wrong has happened, those who did it will be definitely punished," she said, asserting that making accusations without a proper inquiry was unacceptable.

"No such bullet is available with the CG. I don't know from where the bullet had come. At the same time, what the fishermen had said (that they were attacked) was true. It is good for all of us to talk after a thorough enquiry," she said.

"I understand the travails of our fishermen" and it needs to be found out who fired at them, Sitharaman said.

The ICG had on Tuesday denied that its personnel opened fire and said "no fisherman has been fired upon by any CG ship in Palk Bay".

In a statement the ICG had said it might have been an attempt by the fishermen to "divert" attention as they were checked and warned by the Indian Coast Guard Ship against "unauthorised" paired trawling.

Yesterday, the Madras High Court directed the Tamil Nadu Police to appoint an officer of the deputy police superintendent rank to monitor the ongoing investigation in the matter.

Fishermen Care, a Chennai based association, had made a plea to the court on the incident. The Mandapam Police in Ramanathapuram district was looking into the matter.