Fishermen row: DMK demands probe by India, UAE

Fishermen row: DMK demands probe by India, UAE New Delhi: DMK Thursday demanded a joint investigation by India and UAE into the firing on fishermen by a US Navy ship that resulted in the death of one of them as also interim compensation to the injured.

In a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, DMK MPs also asked the government to ensure that full compensation to the deceased and three injured fishermen be paid by the US, UAE and the Dubai-based companies which employed them.

A fisherman was killed and three others -- all hailing from Tamil Nadu -- were wounded when a security team onboard a US Navy ship fired at their small boat off the Dubai coast early this week.

"Government must impress upon them (the US) for a full investigation in the case so that it would help to avoid tragic incidents of this kind in future elsewhere in the world," the memorandum said.

The MPs noted that the Dubai incident as well as the firing on Tamil fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities have caused restlessness and a sense of desolation among thousands of fishermen communities that live along the 1,100 km coastline of the state.

They demanded that government should ensure that the body of Sekar, who died in the incident, be brought back to India immediately and proper treatment be given to the three injured.

"Pending payment from the US, UAE administration, Dubai companies, an interim payment and provision for employment to the kin of deceased and injured fishermen" be provided by the government of India, they said.

The government should also press for a join investigation by UAE and Indian authorities into the incident, they added.