South Asian Fishermen Federation (SAFF) has condemned the shooting incident near Vizhinjam in Kerala in which two fishermen from Kanyakumari sustained injuries on Monday evening.

In a statement issued here, , Fr. Churchill, general secretary of the SAFF, said if fishermen had failed to stop their boat, the Coast Guard personnel could have intercepted it, instead of firing at them.

M. Clinton (23) of Ramanparambu area in Thuckalay and J. Subin (20) of Manalikarai sustained injuries.

The federation appealed to the Centre and the State to create a safe environment for the fishermen. The SAFF demanded the government to book a case against Coast Guard personnel, and order a judicial probe. The Tamil Nadu and Kerala governments should provide compensation to the affected fishermen, Fr. Churchill said. Both of them underwent surgeries at the Government Medical College Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday.

2015, The Hindu