A Gujarat fisherman was killed and 30 others were allegedly kidnapped by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, from international waters off the State’s Jakhau coast on Friday.
“Yesterday [Friday] around 4 a.m., Pakistani agencies started indiscriminate firing at fishing boat ‘Dhanvati’ when they were fishing in international waters,” Porbandar Boat association vice-president Manish Lodhari told reporters.
Fisherman Naran Sosa died in the firing. “We learnt about this incident when the boat, which was from Porbandar, returned here this [Saturday] morning with his body,” he said.
“When we were fishing, Pakistani agency boats came there and started firing on us. We escaped but one of our fellow fishermen died,” Magan Soso, one of the five fishermen who were present on board ‘Dhanvati’, told reporters on returning to Porbandar.
“They took away 30 other fishermen in five boats,” said Mr. Lodhari.
Modi seeks action
Chief Minister Narendra Modi has asked the Centre to take this issue seriously and inquire into it. “Spoke to A.K. Antony on Pakistan’s action against Guj fishermen today. Urged him that Centre should take a serious note and investigate it,” Mr. Modi wrote on his Twitter account.
This is the first major attack on Indian fishermen by Pakistan after the beginning of the fishing season.
