Pakistan Marine Agency open fires, Gujarat fisherman injured

One Gujarat fisherman was injured yesterday in open fire by Pakistan Marine security Agency off Gujarat coast. Injured fisherman Raju Vira Solanki(45) of Okha in Jamnagar district has been hospitalized in Naliya referral hospital of Kutch district. Pakistani marines fired shot at Gujarat based fishing boat in the afternoon and kidnapped three boats with 12 fishermen.

According to fishermen who witnessed the incident Pakistani marines fired 50-60 rounds from Machine gun at Mangrol’s Ashok Sagar boat in which Raju, Gulabchand, Nano Dharam, Premchand and Manu were present. When fishermen contacted Indian Coast Guard through wireless,a Coast Guard ship Tarabai rushed to the spot and brought injured fisherman and others to nearest Jakhau port.

According to Porbandar Coast Guard DIG Rajan Bargotra, Pakistani marines had fired at Gujarat’s fishing boat after the boat tried to flee after being apprehended. Pakistani agency had asked four Gujarat boats to surrender capturing 22 fishermen. Pakistani force looted fishing net, GPS system, Wireless sets, mobile phones, cash and other things from boats. 10 old aged, weak and juvenile fishermen were later released with one boat, while 12 fishermen and 3 boats were taken to Karachi.