Shootout In Sri Lanka's Colombo Leaves Eight Injured, Probe Underway

A shootout at Sri Lanka's Colombo harbour left eight injured including three women. Four out of eight sustained minor injuries and a probe into the matter is underway.

A security guard shot eight people including three women near Gate 6 of the Colombo harbour on Tuesday. All eight injured were admitted to Sri Lanka's Colombo National Hospital. While giving details about the incident, a police official said that the shooting was carried out by a security guard at a road construction site of the Expressway. Official further said that a tense situation had prevailed when a group of people at Bloemendhal Street attempted to stop two people who came with the intention to steal iron from the relevant road development site, reported Daily Mirror.

As per the latest development into the investigation, a security guard at the incident site opened fire on the mob when they tried to grab a firearm from another security guard. Four of the injured sustained minor injuries as per reports. The Foreshore Police is conducting a probe into the matter.

In another event, Sri Lankan army allegedly assaulted 12 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The fishermen after the alleged attack returned from their coast on Wednesday. 

According to an IANS report, out of the 12 fishermen, five were from Mayiladuthurai, five were from Karaikal and the remaining two were from Nagapattinam. All 12 fishermen ventured into the sea from Karaikal fishing harbour on Monday in a mechanised boat.

According to sources, the state coastal police will investigate whether the Sri Lankan navy had crossed into the Indian waters and assaulted the fishermen, the report said. 

Bhaktavalsalam, fishermen association leader of Mayiladuthurai, told IANS, "This has now become a routine, on and off our fishermen are being attacked by the Sri Lankan Navy. They are assaulting our men and have robbed them of their catch. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin must immediately take this up with the Prime Minister and work out a permanent solution to this."

The fishermen's associations have been stating that the attack on Tamil fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy has been on the rise even after the protests. The association members also sought the intervention of the Central government so that Tamil Nadu fishermen could peacefully venture into the sea. 

However, the instances continue even after TN CM Stalin attempted to draw the attention of PM Modi and the Union External Affairs Minister into the issue.