India Protests Against Pakistan Sinking Indian Fishing Vessel; Six On-Board Rescued By Coast Guard, One Missing

India has registered a strong protest with Pakistan for sinking of an Indian fishing vessel, with seven Indian fishers on-board, by Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) on 17 January. The Coast Guard later rescued six of these fishermen while one of them is still missing, reports Economic Times.

The rescued fishermen have reportedly told the Indian authorities that a PMSA vessel fired upon their boat, then rammed and sunk the boat in the early hours of 17 January.

According to the report, one fisherman is still missing after the incident that took place about 64 nautical miles southwest of Mitha port of Kutch in Gujarat.

“The Government of India condemns in the strongest terms such deplorable and unprofessional act by PMSA of firing at a fishing vessel and later ramming and sinking it,” read the protest note handed to Pakistan.

“Such acts are in contravention of all international laws, conventions and established humanitarian norms and practices. Pakistan authorities are called upon to investigate this heinous act and instruct its forces to desist from such acts immediately,” the note added.

The fishing vessel incident comes after a series of incidents that have strained the ties between India and Pakistan. As per the report, India had earlier complained to Pakistan regarding two Indian diplomats being threatened by Pakistani security personnel, days after in India, a woman filed a police complaint against a Pakistani High Commission official alleging that he inappropriately touched her at a market in Delhi.