Pakistan’s arrests of Indian fishermen remains a mystery

AHMEDABAD: Pakistan Marine Security Agency (MSA)'s seizure of two boats along with 12 Indian fishermen on board on Saturday remains shrouded in mystery.

Neither Indian Coast Guard nor fishermen associations in Saurashtra seem to have any clue about them.

Normally, Pakistan informs the National Fish Workers Forum ( NFF) in Porbandar or the fishermen association of the place fishermen belong to whenever MSA detains them. None of the associations has any idea about the 12 fishermen.

NFF secretary Manish Lodhari has informed Gujarat fisheries commissioner that he had received a wireless message about the seizure of two boats near International Maritime Border Line (IMBL) on January 3.

"Many times it happens boats escape or are let off after checking (by MSA). The message (of seizure) could be fake too," Lodhari told the fisheries commissioner in a fax message.

Lodhari said he got in touch with the Pakistan fishermen forum, who informed him the boats have not reached there.

On Sunday, Coast Guard officials had confirmed to TOI that two boats named 'Jhulelal' and 'Jalaram' with 12 fishermen onboard were seized from IMBL off Jakhau coast.

"It is likely that some boats reached closer to Pakistan marine's vessel and others returned from that area in order to escape seizure, leaving a message about two boats being captured," Lodhari told TOI.

"But Pakistan may have released boats after the due process and did not seize them, which happens many times."

Moreover, sources said no fishing boat owner has approached any association reporting that their boat was seized or missing.

"We can only get confirmation from Pakistan or wait for the abducted fishermen to return," said a fishermen association functionary.