55 Indian fishermen arrested, 9 boats seized

Fifty-five Indian fishermen have been arrested by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency for allegedly fishing in the country’s territorial waters.

The PMSA has also seized nine Indian fishing boats during a four-day operation (from Wednesday) in the Arabian Sea, a spokesman said.

The spokesman said that speed boats were deployed to intercept the boats of Indian fishermen, who were arrested as they were fishing illegally in Pakistan’s territorial waters.

“The fishermen, after initial investigations, have been handed over to the Docks police,” he said. A police official said the fishermen would now be produced before a judicial magistrate.

Fishermen from Pakistan and India are frequently detained for illegally fishing in each other’s territorial waters since the Arabian Sea does not have a clearly defined marine border and the boats, used by fishermen, lack the technology to avoid them from drifting away.