The bodies of two Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu, who were killed during a shooting in Saudi Arabian waters, reached India on Thursday, September 17, 2026, following a month-long legal and consular process.
- Victims identified as P. Maveiran and G. Shankar were killed on August 10 while fishing.
- Bodies arrived at Chennai airport by flight and were transported to their villages via special ambulance.
- Families are now calling for a full investigation, identification of attackers, and financial assistance.
On the night of August 10, four Tamil Nadu fishermen were engaged in marine fishing when
their boat was fired upon by another group. The Tamil Nadu government later identified the incident in the state assembly as an attempted maritime robbery.
Maveiran died on the spot from gunshot wounds, while Shankar succumbed to his injuries after being hospitalized in Saudi Arabia for several days.
Two other Indian fishermen present on the boat survived with injuries. While a state government minister initially mentioned suspected Iranian pirates in the assembly, early local reports described the attackers as unknown. The investigation into the nationality of the attackers remains ongoing.
The delay in repatriation was attributed to the incident occurring at sea and the subsequent requirement for local Saudi Arabian legal formalities and investigations. Coordination was managed through the
Mayiladuthurai district administration, the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Indian mission. Both men had been working in Saudi Arabia to support their families. Maveiran, a long-term worker who had recently returned from leave, and Shankar, both leave behind wives and children.
