One fisherman died while another went missing after their fishing boat capsized mid-sea due to a collision with a Sri Lankan navy ship on Thursday, said the Ministry of External Affairs in a statement. The incident took place five nautical miles north of Katchatheevu and a search is ongoing for the missing Indian fisherman.
The mechanised fishing boat capsized when the Sri Lankan navy attempted to arrest them on a charge of illegal fishing, reported PTI quoting a senior fisheries official.
A total of four fishermen, all from Rameswaram, who were on board fell into the sea after the boat capsized, the PTI report added.
"Out of the four Indian fishermen who were on board the vessel, one unfortunately lost his life and another is missing," said the MEA in a statement. Two fishermen aboard the ship were rescued and brought ashore to Kankesanthurai.
The Ministry said that the officials at the Indian Consulate in Jaffna have been instructed to immediately rush to Kankesanthurai and extend all possible assistance to the fishermen and their families.
The Sri Lankan Acting High Commissioner in New Delhi was also called on Thursday morning to the Ministry of External Affairs and a "strong protest" was lodged over the incident.
"We expressed our shock and anguish at the unfortunate loss of life. Our High Commissioner in Colombo will also be raising the matter with the Sri Lankan government later today," the statement added.
The Ministry reiterated the Government of India's stance on the need to deal with issues about fishermen in a "humane and humanitarian manner."
"Existing understandings between the two Governments in that regard must be strictly observed. Utmost efforts should be made to ensure that there is no recurrence or resort to the use of force," the statement noted.