Govt will give compensation to Tamil Nadu fisherman's kin, says Ravi - The Times of India
KOCHI: Minister for overseas Indian affairs Vayalar Ravi said on Saturday that the Indian government would pay compensation to the family of the fisherman, A Sekhar, who was gunned down by the US Navy personnel off the UAE coast recently.
He said steps had been taken to bring home the body of the deceased. The minister strongly condemned the killing of the fisherman.
"It was an arrogant act. Since the incident happened in the UAE waters it is for the UAE government to take action against the guilty. We have conveyed our anxiety and protest to the UAE government," Ravi said.
The minister also said that a new law would be brought to regulate travel of women on visit visas to the countries in West Asia following complaints of sexual abuse against them.
The proposed law aims at ensuring that visit visas are issued to women travelling alone only if the sponsors are their husbands, parents or close relatives working in those countries.
Meanwhile, the body of the Indian fisherman who was gunned down by the US Navy personnel off Dubai coast is likely to be brought to India on Monday or Tuesday.
"We are just waiting for the formalities to be completed," Indian Ambassador to the UAE M K Lokesh told TOI over phone from Abu Dhabi.
He said he had already sent a report to the Indian ministry of external affairs on the incident.
Asked whether his report to the Indian government confirmed that it was an unprovoked firing Lokesh said,
"The UAE government is investigating the case, and we have to wait till the outcome is known. But the Dubai police chief said the US Navy personnel opened fire against the fishermen without any provocation. There are two versions of the incident.
"The US has been saying that their Navy personnel had opened fire at the fishermen after sufficient warning. But according to the fishermen it was an unprovoked firing ," said Lokesh.
Kochi; Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi on Saturday said Indian government would pay compensation to the family of the fisherman who was gunned down by the US Navy personnel off the UAE coast recently.
He said steps were taken to bring home the body of the deceased fisherman.
The Minister strongly condemned the killing of the fisherman. It was an arrogant act by the US Navy personnel. It has happened in the UAE waters and it is for the UAE government to take action against the guilty people. We have conveyed our anxiety and protest in the incident to the UAE government,'' the Minister said in response to questions from the journalists on the sidelines of a function here.
The Minister also disclosed that a new law would be brought to regulate travel of women on visit visas to the countries in the Middle East following complaints of sexual abuse against them. The proposed law aims at ensuring that visit visas can be issued to woman travelling alone only by husband or parents or close relatives working in those countries.