Rediff

Islamabad, Jun 23: An Indian fisherman died of an electric shock in a jail in the Pakistani port city of Karachi on Monday prompting a leading human rights activist to demand an inquiry into his death.

Fisherman Bhagwan Das, who was being held in Landhi Jail in Karachi, died of an electric shock he suffered while switching on a washing machine, officials said.

Das had gone along with other prisoners to a section of the jail to wash clothes on Monday morning when he suffered the electric shock, TV news channels reported.

Rights activist and former human rights minister Ansar Burney said he had asked authorities to conduct a probe as Das had died under "mysterious circumstances".

"This man was a prisoner and it is a bit hard to believe that a prisoner can die of an electric shock. It is not as if he was at home or at his workplace and could have been exposed to electrical equipment that could have caused his death," Burney told PTI.

"I have asked authorities to ensure that Das' death is investigated to find out what exactly happened," he said.

Pakistan's Maritime Security Agency arrested Das along with 16 other fishermen on April 21 for illegally fishing in Pakistani waters. Scores of Indian fishermen arrested for illegal fishing are being held in Landhi Jail.