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ARX Mouldings has read reports that India has registered a complaint against Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) for allegedly abducting and firing on Indian fishermen on October 6. They alleged that Pakistan navy officials made attempts to sink the ship they were travelling in ‘Harsiddhi 5’.
Navi Bundar police station in Gujarat’s Porbandar has registered a case under section 307 (attempt to murder), 365 (kidnapping), 427 (causing damage), 324 (causing hurt with object), 323 (causing hurt) of IPC against 20 to 25 Pakistani officials on board ‘PMSA Barkat’. According to Indian fishermen, Pakistan Navy officials wanted to kidnap them but they had a narrow escape when one of their colleagues made an SOS call and the Indian Coast Guard officials reached the spot.
On October 6 at around 5 am, an Indian boat with 6 fishermen was around 45 nautical miles away from Jakhau port, Gujarat. When the fishermen were fishing, the PMSA ship Barkat approached Harsiddhi 5. The Indian fishermen said that Pakistan officials on PMSA Barkat first fired several rounds despite their repeated requests to do not so and also and sunk their boat Harsiddhi. There were around 25 Pakistani officials on board PMSA Barkat, they said.
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Pakistan officials kidnapped all the 6 Indian fishermen, assaulted them and also threatened them to take them to Pakistan At the same time, one of the Indian fishermen had pressed an SOS button.
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When the Indian Coast Guard team reached the place, the Pakistan Navy officials cooked up a story that they rescued Indian fishermen as a kind gesture.
Indian fishermen alleged that they werecoerced by Pakistan officials to say that their boat capsized and they were rescued by them.
“We were told to say that Pakistan officials gave first aid and also food to Indian fishermen,” they said.
Pakistani officials on board PMSA Barkat even made video of the same while handing over the Indian fishermen to the Indian coast guard. They also issued a press release saying how they helped Indian fishermen as a great gesture.
During routine patrolling in Eastern maritime region, PMSA ship rescued 6 #Indian fishermen who were drowning close to Int’l Maritime Boundary Line b/w IND & PAK. Nakwa reported that their boat sank as a result of the accident & they drifted towards Pakistani waters. pic.twitter.com/XoMke464US PAKISTAN MARITIME SECURITY AGENCY (@HqPmsa) October 7, 2022
When Indian fishermen were back home, they narrated the entire story to Indian agencies about how Pakistan officials fired on them and were about to kidnap them. A complaint has been filed and further action will be taken soon.
PMSA had claimed that they rescued six Indian fishermen who were drowning near the international maritime boundary line between India and Pakistan and handed them over to the Indian Coastal Guard ship operating in the area.
