Jafrabad, Umargam fishermen clash in mid-sea, six injured

RAJKOT:

In a mid sea commotion

,

62 nautical miles off Jafrabad coast in Amreli

, a group of 15 fishermen laid siege on three boats and beat up six fishermen black and blue over fishing in their territory.

While the incident occurred early Tuesday morning, its complaint was lodged on Wednesday with

Jafrabad

marine police station which transferred the case papers to Porbandar marine police station, as the incident occurred near Porbandar coast.

The Porbandar marine police station officials said they would be filing the case on Wednesday night.

“The assailants had arrived in three boats from

Umargam

, armed with iron pipes and clubs. They laid siege on three boats — Dhan Prasad, Ajmeri and Gel Ma. They hurled abuses at the fishermen on board these boats, accusing them of fishing in the area they considered to be their territory. Then they attacked the fishermen,” said an official from Jafrabad marine police station.

Those injured in the attack have been identified as

Kishor Koli

(50), Kana Bambhania (27), Ramesh Shiyal (42),

Manglu Bambhania

(25), Kalu Makwana (35) and an unidentified fisherman, all residents of Jafrabad.

The attack left one of Kishor’s legs fractured, and Kana’s with a fractured hand. They both were taken to first Jafrabad government hospital and then to Bhavnagar government hospital for treatment.

“The dispute between the fishermen of Jafrabad and Porbandar and those from Umargam is a long pending one. The fishermen from Umargam come fishing as far as to Jafrabad and Porbandar and run into dispute with the local fishermen whom they consider as their rivals.

Last year, too, the fishermen from Umargam had attacked the fishermen of Jafrabad,” said the official, adding that the identities of the accused were yet to be ascertained.