In the net

The jailed fishermen hail from Una, Mangrol, Porbandar, Veraval, Okha and Vankbara in Diu. Fearing that they could be next, hundreds of boat owners and fishermen are shifting base from Okha and Jakhau to Mangrol and Porbandar. ‘‘They think they are more vulnerable if they head out to sea from Okha or Jakhau as the international boundary line is only 10 hours sailing time from here,’’ says Ramjibhai Gohel, president of fisheries cooperative society in Mangrol.

In the last few weeks the number of boats at Mangrol jetty in Junagadh district has swelled from 200 to 900. ‘‘Mangrol is a small jetty, it’s difficult to accomodate all. But we can’t say no. The fishermen take turns going to sea to accomodate each other,’’ says Veljibhai Masani, president of All-Gujarat Fishermen’s Association.

The situation is similar at Porbandar and Veraval where 1,500 boats from Okha and Jakhau have shifted against a capacity of 500. In Saurashtra’s ports, there are many families whose relatives are jailed in Pakistan.

For Punabhai Pancha, 22, at Mangrol jetty, life could not have been more tragic. Captured last year, he was released this September and received at Okha by his 24-year-old brother Bijalbhai.

The next day Bijalbhai set sail, only to be detained by Pakistani agencies. There is no news of him since. His wife and son are being taken care of by Punabhai and his parents. ‘‘When I leave today, I don’t know whether I will return,’’ Bijalbhai says.

Bhikabhai’s elder brother Jinabhai Govind is also in jail since the last one year. Many fishermen allege that boats are being detained by Pakistan’s agencies deliberately. ‘‘They strip boats of all accessories, including expensive fishing nets, which are not available in Pakistan but are in great demand. All these accessories are unofficially sold off,’’ says Masani.

‘‘When I went to Pakistan last year to secure the release of our fishermen, one contractor showed me nets kept in a godown. He said accessories from Indian boats are not registered, the money goes to security officials,’’ Masani alleges.

Nets cost Rs 15,000 in Gujarat while they are sold at Rs 35,000 in ports across the border. And while the 761 fishermen wallow in Pakistan jails, there is not much progress in negotiations over their release. Two fishermen died recently in jail and their bodies were shipped back.