T. Karthikeyan (32), a fisherman from the Thirupalaikudi fishing hamlet, who had gone to Bahrain for a fishing job, was shot dead by Qatar police, when he was fishing on the high seas along with three other fishermen on Sunday evening.

Karthikeyan and three other fishermen had set out from Bahrain in a fibre glass boat, according to reports received here.

While Karthikeyan died in the firing, the other three fishermen escaped unhurt.

The Qatar police took away the body and arrested the three fishermen, M. Samayamuthu (28) from Thirupalaikudi and A. Raju and R. Ayyappa from Damodaran Pattinam in the district’s Thiruvadanai block, the reports said.

The deceased fisherman is survived by his wife K. Ezhuvakkal (28), daughter Karishma (8) and two sons — Thirumurugan (3) and Balamurugan (one-and-a-half years).

Talking to The Hindu over phone from Bahrain, S. Thamaraiselvan, a fisherman from Thirupalaikudi said Karthikeyan and the others were to return on Monday morning after a nightlong fishing expedition.

Tamil Nadu fishermen in Bahrain have taken up the matter with the Indian Embassy to bring the body and secure the release of the fishermen, Mr. Thamaraiselvan said.