In the backdrop of the neighbouring country’s gesture of releasing 172 Indian fishermen jailed in Karachi for alleged violation of International Maritime Boundary (IMBl), Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) apprehended more than 50 India fishermen and captured their 10 boats near from the bay of Kutch in Arabian Sea.
Confirming the development secretary of National Fishworkers’ Forum Manish lodhari said that the apprehended fishermen were belonging to coastal town Okha in Devbhoomi Dwarka district while they were in mid-sea for fishing activities on Wednesday morning.
According to lodhari, there were nearly 13 fishing boats off Okha coast, of them nearly 10 were seized by PMSA personnel along with 55 fishermen. The three boats which were not apprehended returned back to Okha and the fishermen on-board informed about the abduction of 10 boats and their fellow fishermen by PMSA to authority.
Apprehension of Indian fishermen is happening since many years. In March 2016 PMSA had apprehended 18 fishermen with three boats from bay of Kutch. Even in the previous month February PMSA abducted 12 Indian fishermen along with their two boats.
According to lodhari, as of now nearly 450 Indian fishermen are in Pakistan jail. Of these fishermen 18 have written a request letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to talk Pakistan Government for their release. The Union Government responded quickly and initiated action for the release of Indian fishermen lodged in Pakistan jails.