20 Indian fishermen feared being apprehended by Pakistan

Two fishing boats which sailed from Gujarat's Okha are feared to be in Pakistan's custody after they failed to return from their usual fishing expedition. However, the local fisheries authorities have not received any information about these fishermen or boats against the usual circumstances when the fishermen are detained by Pakistan if they trespass into their territorial waters.

Okha (Gujarat): After two fishing boats with crew failed to return after a fishing expedition, the fisherfolk in Okha fear that they would have been possibly apprehended by Pakistan marine security agencies.

Latifbhai's family owns two fishing boats Husseni 3 and Al Waseela Sabin. On December 6, both the fishing boats with a crew of 20, nine in Husseni 3 and 11 fishers in Al Waseela Sabin, sailed from Okha for fishing.

However, the boats have not returned back to the shore and Latifbhai family fears that the two boats and the crew would have been abducted by Pakistan marine agencies. The family said that their fishing boats fish in the Indian waters along the International Maritime Boundary Line and it is unlikely that they would have ventured into Pakistan waters for fishing.

Meanwhile, the fisheries officials at Okha have not received any information about these boats. Under normal circumstances, the Indian and Pakistan authorities would inform local fisheries authorities about the detention of fishermen if they cross IMBL.

Gujarat has the longest coastline of 1600 kilometres but the fishermen along the coast are in constant danger of straying into the neighbouring country's territorial waters while fishing. Pakistan marine security agencies in the past have apprehended a good number of fishing boats and the crew from Gujarat.