International

Indian farmer killed in South Africa

Durban Oct. 10. A farmer of Indian origin, Vishu Maharaj(52), was shot dead yesterday at his farm in Roseneath area, 100 km to the south of Durban, when he rushed to the assistance of his sister-in-law, Leelapathy Jaikaran, who was attacked by a group of ``burglars,.''

``After my dad heard my aunt's screams, he ran after the men,'' said Sharmila, Maharaj's daughter. ``One of the gunmen turned around and shot him in the abdomen. He died later in hospital.'' "Because of the loneliness and the distance that separates farms in the area, we are sitting ducks,'' Sharmila added.

Leelapathy said it was clear that they were being targeted because certain forces want them off their land.

The KwaZulu-Natal Minister of Agriculture, Narend Singh, a person of Indian origin, said the police was on the trail of at least one suspect. _ PTI

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