Pak dy envoy summoned over firing on fishermen

India on Monday summoned Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner Mansoor Ahmed Khan and registered a strong protest over the "indiscriminatory" firing on fishermen in which one of them was killed by the Pakistan Maritime Security agency near the maritime border.

New Delhi called Khan to the External Affairs Ministry and the Joint Secretary (Pakistan) in the External Affairs Ministry, Rudrendra Tandon, conveyed to him that the government condemns the incident that took place on October 11. The fishermen were on a boat named 'Dhanvantari' and fishing in international waters when they were intercepted by the Pakistani agency.

"The Pakistani Dy High Commissioner was informed that it is of great concern that an incident of this nature has taken place amidst the stated desire by Pakistan for peaceful, friendly and cooperative ties with India. We have asked that the incident be thoroughly investigated and its results be shared at an early date," an official statement said.

A fisherman, Naran Bhai Sosa, was killed in the incident. Another 30 fishermen were detained by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency on Saturday off Jakhau coast in Gujarat. The fishermen were allegedly taken away in five boats, a member of the Fishermen's Boat Association said.

The incident took place almost two weeks after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif met in New York. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had demanded that the central government should take this issue seriously.