JUBAIL: A 48-year-old fisherman from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, India, was shot dead by suspected Iranian pirates near the Saudi-Iran sea border on Friday evening.
The slain fisherman, Siluvai Mathivalan, had left the Jubail port in a launch five days ago for fishing, along with four others. The fishermen unknowingly strayed into the Iranian territorial waters, where they were rounded up by a small boat of armed pirates.
The pirates reportedly shot Mathivalan with the intention of robbery, killing him on the spot. The criminals, however, left immediately without harming the other fishermen, who brought his body to the Jubail port late at night.
News of Mathivalan's death shocked the fishermen community in Jubail, where hundreds of Tamil Nadu fishermen work.
Shamsudheen Chettippadi, a social worker associated with the fishing community in Jubail, said he is in contact with the authorities and the sponsor for necessary help in this regard.
In September last year, fisherman Karthikeyan Thangaraj, 32, from Thirupalaikudi village of Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu, was shot dead by Qatar coastguard.
On May 21, 2013, fisherman Thomas Soosai, 48, from Kanyakumari district, was shot dead off the Bahrain coast by suspected Iranian pirates.
Pirates kill fisherman
