Gujarat fisherman died in Pak-jail in March; family learns now
What's the story
More than three months after a Gujarat fisherman in Pakistan jail died, his family now came to know about the demise through a letter written by one of his cellmates. Deva Rama Baraiya (55), a fisherman from Kotada village in Gujarat's Gir Somnath, was arrested from the high seas by the Pakistani maritime patrolling agencies and put in a Karachi jail on February 2.
Details
Wife received the letter yesterday
Pravin Dhansukh Chavda, a cellmate of Baraiya, had written a letter on April 22 informing about the fisherman's death in the prison on March 4, Kotada village sarpanch Babubhai Somabhai had said yesterday. Baraiya's wife Kasturiben received the letter yesterday, he said. Chavda is the son-in-law of Baraiya's brother and his family too lives in Kotada village, the sarpanch said.
Steps taken
Sushma Swaraj requested to raise matter with Pak authorities
Baraiya is survived by wife, who works as a maid, and six children. The Gujarat Fishermen Central Cooperative Association Limited President Veljibhai Masani confirmed Baraiya's death and requested External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to raise the matter with the Pakistani authorities. He criticized the neighboring country's authorities for not informing their Indian counterparts about the fisherman's death in their captivity.