A fisherman from Tamil Nadu was killed and three were injured when they were shot at by a US Navy off the coast of Dubai on Monday. Reports from the UAE said the fishermen were shot when they did not heed warnings and approached the naval ship in their small boat.
In the incident,one person identified as Sekar,died,while three Muniraj,Panpuvan and Murugan were injured and admitted to hospital.
The men,all contract labourers from coastal Ramanathapuram district,have been working as fishermen for companies based in Dubai.
Senior US Navy official Lt Greg Raelson,spokesperson for the Bahrain-based 5th Fleet,said the personnel on board the USNS Rappahannock issued a series of warnings before firing at the small craft with 50 calibre machine gun near Dubais Jebel Ali port. The matter,he added was under investigation.
The services concerned are now investigating this incident, UAEs official news agency WAM quoted Foreign Ministry official Tareq Amed al-Hidan as saying.
ABC News quoting an unnamed UAE official said the fishing boat had four Indians and two Emirate nationals on board.
Dozens of police and other Emirati officials crowded around the white-hulled motorized boat which appeared to be a civilian vessel about 30 feet long and powered by three outboard motors. Rescue workers were seen carrying one person in a body bag off the boat and placing it in an ambulance.
With PTI,Dubai
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