Indian fisherman dies in Pak police custody

Karachi, Mar.27 (ANI): An Indian fisherman, Bhambania Laka, who was arrested by Pakistan's Maritime Security Agency (MSA) for violating the territorial waters of Pakistan, has died under mysterious circumstances in police custody here.

Maritime Security Agency DDG Commodore Muhammad Afzal confirmed the report, but refused to give any details about the cause of death.

"So what, let it be, there is no need to worry," Commodore Afzal callously said.

Indian High Commission officials in Islamabad also confirmed the report, but said the cause of death would be ascertained only after an autopsy.

"He (Laka) was from Gujarat and we don't know any further details as yet. Cause of death of the deceased fisherman can only be ascertained after medical examinations", an official, S.K. Reddy, said.

"Probably, the fisherman died on the next day of his arrest while still in the custody of maritime security agency officials," he added.

According to The News, the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency had caught 74 Indian fishermen on March 25. However, the SHO of the Docks Police Station in Karachi, Irshad Inayat, said only 73 fishermen were produced before the court.

Inayat also denied reports about the death of any fisherman.

"All the 73 Indian fishermen were produced before the court, and the court sent them to jail," he added. (ANI)