More than 500 fishermen from Gujarat are languishing in Pakistani jails, the Gujarat government said in a statement to the Legislative Assembly during the current budget session on Wednesday.
In response to a written question from Congress MLA Punja Vansh, Fisheries Minister Brijesh Merja informed the assembly that 519 fishermen from the state are lodged in Pakistani jails by December 2021. Of these, 358 were arrested in the last two years.,163 fishermen were arrested in 2020 and 195 in 2021.
The minister informed that the government was making every effort for the release of the fishermen. For their release Government is verifying nationality and has submitted the necessary documentary evidence to the Home Ministry for further action.
Notably, the fishermen from Gujarat have been caught several times by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency after crossing the international maritime border. These fishermen from districts like Porbandar, Gir Somnath, and Devbhoomi Dwarka end up in Pakistani jails if they accidentally cross the maritime border in the Arabian Sea.
