Maharashtra Fisherman Killed, One Injured In Firing By Pak Maritime Security Personnel Off Gujarat Coast

The official informed that there were seven crew members on the boat and one of them also sustained a minor injury in the firing incident.

Representative Photo

New Delhi: A fisherman from Maharashtra was killed and one of the crew members of his boat was injured in firing by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) personnel near the international maritime boundary line in the Arabian sea off Gujarat coast, a police official informed on Sunday.

The incident occurred around 4 pm on Saturday, he said, as reported by news agency PTI.

“A fisherman from Thane in Maharashtra, who was on a fishing boat ‘Jalpari’, was killed after the PMSA personnel opened fire on him and other crew members on Saturday evening," Devbhumi Dwarka Superintendent of Police Sunil Joshi said, as quoted by PTI.

The official informed that there were seven crew members on the boat and one of them also sustained a minor injury in the firing incident.

The body of the deceased fisherman, identified as Sridhar Ramesh Chamre (32), was brought to Okha port on Sunday and an FIR was being registered by the Porbandar Navi Bandar police.

 Porbandar Navi Bandar police have jurisdiction across Gujarat over any incident that occurs beyond 12 nautical miles in the Arabian sea, SP Sunil Joshi added.

As informed by the officer, the deceased fisherman, Sridhar Chamre, was on the fishing boat ‘Jalpari’, which had sailed from Okha on October 25 with seven crew members, five of whom from Gujarat and two from Maharashtra.

Investigation into the incident was underway, he stated.

Meanwhile, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) stated: "The case is under investigation at present by police authorities and crew are being interviewed jointly. Details can be shared only after completion of the investigation."

The ICG confirmed that there was a firing in which one person died and one person was injured.

When asked about Pakistan's claim of arresting six "occupants" of the boat, the ICG said: "Arrests not confirmed."

(With Agency Inputs)