Thiruvananthapuram:
Two fishermen from Tamil Nadu were injured when warning shots fired by a ship of the Indian Coast Guard ricocheted and hit them, six kilometers off the Vizhinjam harbour in Thiruvananthapuram.
The official statement released by the Defence Wing of the government of India states that the fishing boat did not stop for routine investigations, despite being directed to stop by the Coast Guard. Instead, it picked up speed and started fleeing, said the statement.
"This increased the suspicion and as per standard procedures, warning shots were fired. Two fishermen sustained minor injuries via ricochet of warning shots. The fishermen were administered first aid and shifted to the Medical College." The press release stated.
The boat with nine men on board was sailing from Kanyakumari to Kollam. Further investigations revealed that the fishermen on board were not in possession of either valid registration papers or identity cards for the crew, according to the Coast Guard.