A fisherman was injured when personnel on board of an Immediate Support Vessel (ISV) of Indian Navy shot at a boat anchored close to an oil platform in the offshore development area at Bombay High, off the Mumbai on Sunday evening. “On Sunday evening, an ISV was on a coastal security patrol in the Offshore Development Area i.e. Bombay High, around 80 Km from Mumbai. While providing protection to the offshore oil rig, ISV noticed a fishing boat anchored close to an oil platform. Despite repeated warning when the boat refused to move out of the prohibited area, warning shots were fired into the water,” a Press release from the Navy stated.
“One round deflected on hitting the water and accidentally hit a fisherman in the boat. The fisherman was immediately evacuated by helicopter to a hospital ashore for treatment. His condition is currently stable,” the released. According to Navy spokesperson, the incident was immediately reported to the Joint Operations Centre which is manned round the clock and where all authorities concerned with coastal security are present.
“The relatives of the injured fisherman have also been informed. An inquiry has been ordered by the authorities into the incident,” the spokesperson said. Meanwhile, the Yellowgate police have registered a case under section 307 (attempt to murder) of IPC against unknown persons and are investigating the incident. Police said the fishing boat came close to one of the oil platforms of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation ltd (ONGC) located in Bombay High whose oil rigs are secured by the Navy, prompting the personnel on board ISV to fire at the fishing boat. In a related development, the ONGC officials spotted the wounded fisherman, brought him to one of the platforms in their western offshore field and gave him first aid. They later flew him in a chopper and got him admitted into the State-run JJ hospital in Mumbai.