Coast Guard rescues 7 fishermen from Pakistan ship in Gujarat

New Delhi: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has rescued seven Indian fishermen who had been apprehended by a Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) ship near the India-Pakistan Maritime Boundary after a tense two-hour chase along the border.

The dramatic rescue took place on Sunday evening after a distress call was received from an Indian fishing boat operating near the No-Fishing Zone. The boat reported that another fishing vessel, the Kal Bhairav, had been intercepted by a Pakistani vessel and seven Indian crew members had been apprehended.

"In response, the ICG ship immediately proceeded to the reported location. Despite efforts by the PMSA ship to retreat, the ICG ship intercepted the PMSA ship and persuaded them to relieve Indian fishermen," officials said.


The fishermen were found to be in a stable condition and have been brought to shore for further investigation.

"Indian Coast Guard ship Agrim, deployed close to the maritime boundary line with Pakistan, chased the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency ship PMS Nusrat for around two hours and clearly conveyed that under no condition, it would allow Indian fishermen to be taken away," senior officials said.

While the Indian fishermen were rescued, fishing boat Kal Bhairav was reported to have been damaged and sunk during the incident. A joint investigation involving the coast guard, state police, intelligence agencies, and fisheries authorities is being undertaken to probe the circumstances leading to the collision and the abduction.