India takes up stone pelting incidents on fishermen with Sri Lanka

New Delhi, Jan 23 (ANI): The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday informed that New Delhi has taken up with Colombo reports of incidents involving stone pelting of some Indian fishing boats in Sri Lankan waters.

"We have seen reports of incidents involving stone pelting of some Indian fishing boats in Sri Lankan waters. We have taken up the matter with the Sri Lankan authorities. Separately, it is also understood that two Indian fishing boats, which were stranded off the coast of Sri Lanka due to engine trouble were assisted by the Sri Lankan authorities and taken to Talaimannar on the coast of Sri Lanka," said MEA official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.

"Officials of the Consulate General of India in Jaffna/ High Commission of India in Colombo who have been in touch with the nine fishermen who were on these boats have confirmed that the fishermen and their boats are expected to return to India today. The Sri Lanka Navy have escorted them to the International Maritime Boundary Line and handed them over to the Indian Coast Guard at 1600 hours," he added. (ANI)