Over 100 Indian fishermen were arrested, and 19 of their boats seized by Pakistan for allegedly fishing in their territorial waters off the Gujarat coast. Pakistan Maritime Security Agency arrested the fishermen and seized the boats off Jakhau coast in Kutch district. The news was confirmed by a PMSA spokesman who said they have been handed over to the local police for further action.
“We have become used to this routine now as these Indian fishermen get arrested illegally fishing in our waters every month or so,” the official said. They would be presented in a court, from where the judicial magistrate would send them to jail as per the procedure. Manish Lodhari, Secretary of India's National Fishworkers Forum, said, “We learnt that more than 100 fishermen who were on board around 18 fishing boats were apprehended by PMSA near the international maritime boundary line off Jakhau coast. The fishermen who escaped (the arrest) have informed us about it.”
“All the boats are from Okha and Porbandar towns. The fishermen are from various coastal villages.”
