Patel meets Khushid to discuss dead Guj fisherman's issue

The family of the deceased have alleged that the authorities in Pak were delaying the release of his body

The issue of a Gujarat fisherman, whose body is yet to be returned to his family by Pakistan, was taken up by Political Secretary to Sonia Gandhi, Ahmed Patel with External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid.

Bhikha Lakha Shiyal, a fisherman from Garal village in Junagadh district of Gujarat, died in the Karachi jail in Pakistan on December 19, 2013. He was reportedly captured by Pakistani authorities and his death was conveyed to his kin on January 4.

"I held talks with Khurshid yesterday and requested him to look into the matter," Patel told PTI here today.

He said the Pakistani authorities should be asked as to what measures they have in place to ensure protection to the jail inmates.

"We should also ask them to return more than 750 Indian boats which have been seized since 2003 and are still in Pakistan's custody," the Congress MP said.

The family of the deceased have alleged that the authorities in the neighbouring country were delaying the release of his body owing to the "mystery" surrounding his death.

Bhavika, the 12-year-old daughter of the deceased fisherman has written letters to the Congress President Sonia Gandhi, seeking her intervention in the matter and has sought her and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's help for facilitating her visit to Karachi prison, where he died.