The Hindu : National : India protests shooting of fisherman

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 17, 2006

National

National

India protests shooting of fisherman

Diplomatic Correspondent

NEW DELHI: India has lodged a protest with Pakistan following the death of an Indian fisherman, Shantilal Mangal (21), who was "killed in firing" by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency early on Monday morning, the External Affairs Ministry spokesman said on Thursday. According to the spokesman, the Pakistani Deputy High Commissioner, Munawwar Bhatty, was called to the Ministry and a protest was registered against the killing.

Mr. Mangal was on the fishing boat, Avani, "in Indian waters" — west of the Gujarat coast — when the firing took place. The rest of the boat's crew returned with Mr. Mangal's body to Okha harbour, the spokesman told presspersons.

On the same day, Pakistani authorities also towed away three Indian fishing boats — Bhiva, Puspak and Shiv Mukti — along with a crew of 25 persons, who were fishing in Indian waters.

An Indian Coast Guard ship was able to rescue another Indian fishing boat and bring back yet another, which had been set on fire, the spokesman claimed. India has also demanded the immediate release of the fishermen and their boats.

He maintained that there were about 400 Indian fishermen in Pakistani jails, arrested between September 2005 and February 2006. "There are 269 Indian fishing boats in Pakistani custody and these have been detained in the period October 2003 till now. As you know, though Pakistan released 1,171 fishermen in 2005 it did not release the fishing boats. Previously, Pakistan used to release Indian fishermen and the fishing boats but during this last period Indian fishermen were released via [the] Attari border without the fishing boats being released."

On its part, India had detained 59 Pakistani fishermen, arrested in the period September 2005 to February 2006.

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