MEA summons Pak diplomat, seeks probe into killing of fisherman

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 8

The Foreign Office on Monday summoned a senior Pakistani diplomat and lodged a strong protest on the incident of “unprovoked firing” at Indian fishermen by the Pakistani side. The Pakistani coast guard, called the Pakistani Maritime Security Agency (PMSA), had  fired upon an Indian fishing boat ‘Jalpari’ on November 6 resulting in the death of an Indian fisherman and serious injury to another fisherman.

The Pakistani diplomat was told that the Indian Government “condemned this deplorable action” of firing at an Indian fishing boat and causing loss of life which contravenes established international practices and bilateral understandings.

“Pakistani authorities should consider the issue of fishermen as a humanitarian and livelihood matter. The Government of Pakistan was also called upon to conduct an inquiry into the incident and to instruct its forces to refrain from such acts of unprovoked firing,” said sources.

The dead fisherman was identified as Shridhar Chamare, 32, from Palghar district of Maharashtra. His native village of Vadrai village observed a bandh on Tuesday on a call from the panchayat even as the youth’s body was being sent home from Okha in Gujarat. ‘Jalpari’ had seven crew members, five from Gujarat and two from Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, the Gujarat Police have registered an FIR against 10 PMSA personnel under IPC 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and 114 (abettor present when the offence is committed), and relevant provisions of the Arms Act, said a Gujarat Police official.

The FIR states that ten unidentified PMSA personnel, five each onboard two boats, opened fire at ‘Jalpari’ at around 4 pm on Saturday, killing Chamre and injuring Dilip Solanki, 34, from Diu.