India detains six Pakistani fishermen

Indian Coast Guard has apprehended six Pakistani fishermen and impounded a boat for fishing illegally in Indian waters.The arrests were made about 11 nautical miles from the Indian coast, by patrol ship Subhadra Kumari Chauhan that detected the fishing trawler.

Okha Port (Gujarat), Oct 13 : Indian Coast Guard has apprehended six Pakistani fishermen and impounded a boat for fishing illegally in Indian waters.The arrests were made about 11 nautical miles from the Indian coast, by patrol ship 'Subhadra Kumari Chauhan' that detected the fishing trawler.

The fishing trawler has been handed over to Gujarat's Okha Port.

The apprehended fishermen and the boat came from Pakistan's Karachi city.

"When we were patrolling in Indian maritime zones, we detected few contacts which were operating close to the Indian coast. So, when we closed in, one of the contacts found to be Pakistani boat which was indulged in carrying out fishing in Indian waters and the boat was apprehended," said A P Bardola, Commandant of the Indian Coast Guard ship.

The arrested Pakistani fishermen said they had accidentally strayed into Indian waters.

"We have been caught in the Indian side, on the Indian waters. Our engine broke down and our boat was carried by the current of the water. We never realised when we entered Indian waters," said Sakur Ahmad, one of the Pakistani fishermen.

Pakistan and India frequently arrest each other's fishermen for trespassing in their territorial waters but a recent thaw in relations has led to hundreds, many of who were languishing in jails for years, being released as goodwill gestures.

ANI