22 Indian fishermen had been repatriated by Pakistan, last evening. They entered India from Attari-Wagah Joint Check Post. They were caught while fishing in 2021-22 when they inadvertently entered Pakistan waters.
They have been repatriated after completing their sentence. He informed that 18 of them are from Gujarat, 3 from Diu and one is from UP. Out of them, 3 are physically challenged and one is deaf and dumb, whereas, another one is suffering from Cancer.
A team of the Department of Fisheries from Gujarat is already in Amritsar to take them back home by train, today.
“Pakistan today released 22 fishermen who were caught while fishing in 2021-22. They were given different sentences; someone was sentenced for 36 months, 1 year, 2 years. They have been released, and today they arrived here, and everyone is happy. 18 are from Gujarat, 3 are from Diu and one is from UP,” Singh told ANI.
However, the fate of many Indian fishermen still remains uncertain. Reports indicate that 180 Indian fishermen who have completed their sentences are still awaiting release from Pakistani jails. Additionally, on January 23, an Indian fisherman died in Karachi jail, despite having completed his sentence and confirmed his nationality, making him the eighth Indian fisherman to die in Pakistan’s custody in the last two years.
The Indian government has repeatedly raised concerns over the delayed release of prisoners and has urged Pakistan to expedite repatriation. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts have also been underway with Sri Lanka, which recently released 15 Indian fishermen, who arrived in Chennai on Thursday.
Last month, 41 Indian fishermen detained by the Sri Lankan Navy on charges of cross-border fishing were also freed and sent home. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has urged the Centre to take sustained diplomatic measures to ensure the safety and rights of Indian fishermen, as repeated detentions continue to strain regional fishing communities.