Fishermen get back boats from Pakistan, Bokhiria calls for prevention of further detention

“We are indebted to these leaders. However, a few boats are still in custody of Pakistan. We hope that we get a chance to hold another such ceremony in next six months,” Lodhari said while addressing the gathering of fishermen.

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However, Bokhiria, who was seated on the dais, injected, “We hope that you do not allow your boats to be detained in the first place.”

The intervention was applauded by the crowed and officers of ICG, Gujarat fisheries department as well as other leaders of fishermen community.

Incidentally, the ICG had officially declared early this month that eight Gujarat fishing trawlers with 46 fishermen on board had been detained by PMSA when they were operating in Pakistani waters off Jakhau coast in Gujarat and not from Indian waters as was being claimed by fishermen leaders.

Later talking to The Indian Express, the Minister said that he wanted to convey to the fishermen that they should stay away from IMBL to stay safe and avoid their arrest and detention of boats by PMSA.

While Lodhari alleged that PMSA abducts even those fishing trawlers operating in Indian territorial waters, Velji Masani, vice-president of All Gujarat Fishermen Federation (AGFF), later pleaded the fishermen to stop “crossing the line.”

“I request to my fellow fishermen brothers not to cross the sea for greed of a few better catch of fish. It is important to understand that pride of our nation is called into question when our boat are seized and we have to request Pakistan to release them,” Masani, who was part of the delegation which went to Karachi to coordinate operation of bring back the 57 boats, said.

Masani also equated the situation of requesting Pakistan to release Indian fishing trawlers to India receiving a blow and getting its nose bruised.

Addressing the gathering, Bokhiria said there were 858 Gujarat fishing trawlers in custody of Pakistan as of July, 2014. “While these 57 have been released, the rest have probably been destroyed or auctioned away by Pakistan. This is an issue of livelihood of poor fishermen. We believe both Indian and Pakistan should have an agreement to release fishermen of each other after due checking if they are found violating the IMBL,” said Bokhiria.

The repatriated boats were detained by PMSA in 2013-14 for allegedly crossing over Pakistan side of IMBL. Pakistan had announced to release these boats as a goodwill gesture after its Prime Minister Nawas Sharif attended swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May last year.

Of the released boats, 47 are registered with Porbandar harbour, five with Wanakbara in Diu, three with Mangrol in Junagadh and two with Okha in Devbhoomi Dwarka district.In the current fishing season which began in August, 60 Gujarat boats have been seized.

Similarly, around 170 Pakistan fishing trawlers are in custody of India but Bokhiria said it was for the Union government to take a proper decision in this regard.

After Bokhiria handed over letters to the boat owners, the trawlers were allowed entry into Old Port and Fisheries Terminal in Porbandar harbour.