Pakistan apprehends 12 more Indian fishermen, total 230 captured in March

According to National Fishworkers’ Forum , 230 Indian fishermen along with their 40 boats were captured by Pakistan agency in this month alone.

The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) apprehended 12 Indian fishermen and seized two boats off Gujarat coast Wednesday morning, the National Fishworkers’ Forum (NFF) said, adding that a total of 230 of them have been captured in March.

Indian fisherman sit in a police lockup in Karachi on March 26 after they were arrested by Pakistan coast guards. (AFP Photo)

This comes days after over 100 Indian fishermen were captured by the neighbouring country. With this, the total number of Indian fishermen captured by Pakistan so far this month has gone up to 230, the NFF said.

“These fishermen had sailed off from the coastal town of Porbandar a few days ago and were apprehended by the PMSA near the International Maritime Border Line (IMBL) today,” secretary of NFF, Manish Lodhari, told PTI.

“We have learnt that at least 12 fishermen from Porbandar in their two boats were apprehended by the PMSA near Jakhau coast this morning. These fishermen and their boats were being taken to Karachi port by PMSA,” Lodhari said.

According to him, 230 Indian fishermen along with their 40 boats were captured by Pakistan agency in this month alone.

On March 26, the PMSA had apprehended over 100 Indian fishermen and seized 19 fishing boats near IMBL.

The action had come two days after Indian Coast Guard captured nine Pakistani fishermen along with a fishing boat from Indian waters.