Indian sailor killed over toon row

New Delhi: An Indian sailor was allegedly beaten to death by his colleagues on board a Norwegian oil tanker in the international waters off the coast of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates following an argument over the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad in some European newspapers.

A fight ensued among the seamen after an argument over the issue, causing the death of one sailor, a media report said.

Official sources confirmed the death of 31-year-old Sudhir Jagannathan, a native of Mumbai.

“We have been informed about the death. Our officials visited the Fujairah hospital and collected the details. The investigation is going on and once it is over, the consulate will render all the help to repatriate the body,” an Indian official told Pakistan’s Khaleej Times newspaper.

The entire crew on the ship hails from India. The ship was traveling from Mangalore in Karnataka to Fujairah with a chemical cargo.

Jagannathan worked as a fitter on the ship. The captain of the oil tanker has denied any foul play. He and his crew were remanded to the custody of the Fujairah police, the report added.