Pakistani maritime authorities arrest 50 Indian fishermen

Karachi, Feb 6 (PTI) Pakistani maritime authorities have
arrested 50 Indian fishermen and seized nine boats after they
strayed into its territorial waters near Karachi port.

"These fishermen were fishing in nine boats which have
been taken into custody as well. They would be produced before
a magistrate on Friday for further investigations," an
official of the Pakistan Maritime security forces said
Thursday.

The Indian fishermen were arrested two days after the
Pakistan fisherfolk forum claimed that Indian naval ships had
slipped into Pakistani waters near the sir creek area off
Thatta and taken into custody around two dozen Pakistani
fishermen and whisked them away to an unknown destination.

Till early last year, poor Pakistani and Indian fishermen
were regularly arrested by maritime forces of both countries
on charges of violating territorial water boundaries. But
since then such incidents had reduced due to a understanding
between the two neighbours. PTI