Pirates have shot dead a fisherman on board a Bahraini dhow during an armed robbery at sea, a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister newspaper said.

Thomas Glattus Soosai, from India, was shot in the abdomen when pirates boarded the dhow 10 nautical miles northwest of Bahrain's sea border in an area known as Alrkaa, the report quoted authorities as saying.

The pirates looted the vessel of its catch, equipment and other valuables before leaving Soosai and his six crew mates adrift at sea on Wednesday.

Their vessel was later found floating three nautical miles east of Shaikh Khalifa Port by the Coastguard, but Soosai was already dead.

Coastguard Commander Commodore Ala Abdulla Sayadi said four pirates were involved in the raid and an investigation has been launched.

Muharraq Public Prosecution head Abdulla Al Dossary said Soosai's shipmates were still in shock.

Bahrain's Fishermen Protection Society president Jassim Al Jeran told the GDN he had learned the pirates were Iranians, adding the whole fishing community was stunned. -TradeAraabia News Service