Mumbai: Guj fisherman's body arrives from Pakistan
Fifty five days after his death in a Pakistani jail under mysterious circumstances, the body of a Gujarat fisherman was flown to Mumbai from where it is being brought to his native village in the state on Friday.
Fifty five days after his death in a Pakistani jail under mysterious circumstances, the body of a Gujarat fisherman was flown to Mumbai from where it is being brought to his native village in the state on Friday.
The mortal remains of fisherman Bala Narad Singad, who died in a Karachi jail on July 25, reached Mumbai late last night and is expected to reach his native Soneri village in Una taluka of Gir Somnath district later on Friday, Gujarat fisheries department official J K Rathod, who received the body, told PTI over phone.
The state government had deputed Rathod and another official P Gadiya to receive the body in Mumbai.
After completing the required formalities at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji international airport, the two officials left with the body last evening.
"We have received the body which is being taken by road to Soneri village," Gadiya said.
Singad, his two brothers and some other fishermen were arrested by Pakistani Marine Security Agency (PMSA) off Jakhau coast in April this year for allegedly straying into its territorial waters illegally.
The Pakistani government has not mentioned anything over the release of his two brothers, also lodged in the same jail in Karachi, an official said.
Learning about his death after over a month ago in August, the Indian High Commission office had informed the government.
The state government did not want matters to be delayed further and hence, took immediate steps to complete the procedures to bring back Singad, an official had earlier said.
Singad's wife Samjuben had earlier said, "I learnt about the death of my husband from a letter written by his younger brother Bharat (lodged in Karachi jail) which was delivered to me August 28."
The letter, written soon after her husband's death was not allowed to reach her for over a month, the woman, who is illiterate, had alleged. She had later approached her village sarpanch, who informed her about the demise.
She also demanded a probe into the 'mysterious' circumstances leading to the death of her husband.
Meanwhile, All Gujarat Fisherman Association appealed to the Gujarat government and social organizations to provide financial assistance to the deceased's family, comprising his wife and three minor children.
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