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Amritsar: The Government of Pakistan has released 198 Indian fishermen lodged in Pakistani jails on Friday midnight. All the above fishermen entered India through Attari Wagah. In fact, fishermen who cross the maritime international border in the Arabian Sea are charged with violating the Passport Act of the respective countries. They are punished for a period of about six months.
The Indian fishermen, released by the Pakistan government, said that they crossed the border while fishing as they were not aware of the border in the sea. According to media reports, 200 Indian prisoners were to be released on Thursday. In these, a common citizen and a fisherman died.
Among the released fishermen, 183 are from Gujarat, five from Maharashtra, four each from Union Territory of Diu and Uttar Pradesh, and one each from Andhra Pradesh and another state. A prisoner named Zulfikkar was to be released on Thursday, but he died in jail on Saturday.
One of the fishermen who reached India at Attari Wagah border, said, “I was lodged in Pakistani jails for 5 years. 12 of us were caught while fishing in two boats to cross the border. No one on the water.” There were no navigation buoys, beacons or marks.”
On crossing the border, he said, it was very difficult to identify the border in the sea without any marks. Now I am very happy to be back in my country.” He said that 5-6 Indian fishermen known to him are still languishing in Pakistani jails. They have appealed to the government for help.
Explain that Indian and Pakistani fishermen often cross the international maritime boundary in the Arabian Sea. The concerned agencies of both the countries take them into custody and send them to jail for violation of rules.
Pakistani authorities arrest fishermen when they cross the sea border. Also their boats are confiscated. The fishermen demanded that the seized boats should also be returned as their livelihood depends on it.
Another fisherman who was released from Pak jail said, “We went to Pakistan in the sea, because there is no border. We were caught in 2018. We request you to help those people who are still Pakistanis.” are left in jails. They took our boats and they don’t give them back.”
“I was fishing around the border when Pakistani boats came and took us away. Many of us are still languishing in Pakistani jails,” said Vijay, a fisherman from Gujarat. He appealed to the government for help in the release of fellow fishermen. A request has also been made to return the boats.
