A fisherman was allegedly shot dead by the Coast Guard in the deep sea while he was fishing in the Gahirmartha area in the district on Friday night.
The deceased was identified as Mayadhar Mallik of Naranpur under the Simulia police station in Baleswar district.
Though the exact reason behind Mallick, who was driving the boat, is yet to be ascertained, family members alleged that Mallik died in firing by Coast Guard personnel.
According to reports, Mallik had gone for fishing in ‘Maa Kanan’ boat into the sea. However, he was found dead in the deep sea by a patrolling team of Coast Guard officials in the wee hours.
“The incident took place at around 10 pm and we got the information at around 2 am. My brother and brother-in-law had gone to fish in a Baleswar boat and later got information that Coast Guard officials have shot my brother-in-law dead,” alleged a relative of the deceased Nakul Mallik.
“When we reached the ghat in the morning and went to the Paradip Port Hospital, the authorities denied showing us the body until senior police officials reach the spot,” Nakul added.
Sources said the Coast Guard team while patrolling in the sea spotted and suspecting them to be involved in some anti-social activities opened fire at them.
On the other hand, Rajnagar Forest Division arrested eight other fishermen of the Maa Kanan boat on charges of carrying out illegal fishing in the restricted Gahirmatha area. The fishing boat has also been detained while the arrested fishermen have been produced before the court.