World
Eighty Indian Fishermen Finally Return Home After Three Years In Pakistani Jail
Eighty Indian fishermen released by Pakistan enter India via the Attari-Wagah border (Screengrab)
Officials said Saturday (11 November) that the 80 Indian fishermen who had been released from a prison in Pakistan were transferred to Border Security Force (BSF) authorities at the Attari-Wagah border.
On Thursday (9 November), the Pakistan government released 80 Indian fishermen from the Malir jail in Karachi.
According to Arun Mahal, the protocol officer of the Punjab police, all the prisoners successfully entered India on Friday night (10 November) using the land transit route of the Attari-Wagah border.
They were able to do so by presenting the 'Emergency Travel Certificate' issued by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
Following their repatriation, a group of Indian doctors conducted medical examinations on the fishermen, according to Mahal, who was stationed at the Attari-Wagah border's Joint Check post.
Three years ago, the fishermen were detained when their boats unintentionally entered Pakistan's territorial waters in the Arabian Sea, according to Mahal. Upon their return to India on Friday, the fishermen humbly bowed down and touched the earth as a sign of respect.
Fishermen often face arrests by both India and Pakistan due to the poorly defined maritime border in the Arabian Sea. A significant number of fishing boats lack the necessary technology to accurately determine their exact location.
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.
Latest
