Pakistan frees 86 Indian fishermen

RAJKOT: In a goodwill gesture, Pakistan on Sunday released 86 Indian fishermen from its Landhi jail. The fishermen were arrested by Pakistan marines for allegedly violating its territorial waters.
“We have received the confirmation that Pakistan on Sunday released 86 fishermen and they will reach Veraval station in Gir-Somnath either on 24 or 25 March," said Manish Lodhari, secretary of National Fish workers’ Forum (NFF).
Earlier on March 5, Pakistan had released 86 fishermen from Landhi Jail and they reached their homes on March 8 and reunited with their families in coastal villages of Gujarat.
Fishermen are frequently arrested along with their boats by both India and Pakistan as the maritime border in the Arabian Sea is poorly defined, and many fishing boats lack the technology needed to be certain of their precise location.
Last year, Pakistan had released 57 boats as goodwill gesture. Pakistan has not released any boats which were captured since October 2003. Meanwhile, a delegation of fishermen from Gujarat visited Pakistan to expedite process to 22 boats captured by Pakistan.
There are over 450 Gujarat fishermen lodged in various jails of Pakistan who were apprehended by Pakistan Marines for allegedly violating territorial waters near International Maritime Boundary Line.
Earlier, Rajya Sabha MP Chuni Gohel had written a letter to External Affairs minister Susma Swaraj and urged her to bring back two dead bodies of fishermen from Pakistan who have died in the jail. He also urged to bring back another fisherman who is now in coma and hospitalized.