Mumbai, Nov 24 (IANS) A fisherman was injured when Indian Navy personnel accidentally fired at him during a surveillance operation on the high seas off Gujarat, an official said Monday.

The incident occurred Monday night during a special search-and-screen operation mounted by the Indian Navy, the Coast Guard and state authorities ahead of the the 26/11 anniversary Thursday.

During the operation, while the naval personnel were investigating a group of fishing boats, inadvertent firing took place in which a fisherman Pagi Chhagan, 43, was wounded in the arm, a defence spokesperson said here Tuesday evening.

Chhagan, hailing from Valsad town in south Gujarat, was rushed to an Indian Naval ship nearby where he was administered comprehensive medical treatment by the ships' doctor.

Early Tuesday, he was airlifted by a naval helicopter to Mumbai and admitted to the INHS Asvini, the naval hospital in Colaba.

'The patient is conscious, coherent and stable and has been in telephonic touch with his wife and family. An inquiry has been ordered into the incident,' the defence spokesperson said.