India detains four Pakistani fishermen, seizes boat

THATTA: The Indian maritime security forces arrested at least four fishermen along with their fishing vessel and huge catch on Wednesday, ARY News reported.

The arrests came to light after two fishermen, who somehow managed to swim ashore, informed Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum officials that the Indian security personnel penetrated into Kajhar Creek in Arabian Sea along Keti Bandar coast violating Pakistan territorial waters and not only took away the fishermen, their boat and catch but also tortured them ruthlessly.

They said that the detained fishermen were; Ghulam Hussain Mallah, his son Younus Mallah, Zakariya Mallah and Mustafa Mallah. All the fishermen were residents of Jangisar village. Twelve fishermen from the same area were taken away by Indian forces about a year back. Their whereabouts are still not known.

In August last year, at least nine Pakistani fishermen were taken into custody by Indian Coast Guard after they allegedly crossed over to the Indian territorial waters in the Arabian Sea. The crew and boat were escorted to Okha port and have been handed over to local Marine Police for further investigation.

Pakistan and India routinely arrest fishermen on charges of entering each other’s waters as the maritime boundaries between the two countries were poorly defined and many fishing boats lack technologies on locating their precise places.

These arrested fishermen languish in jails of the other country often for years.