28 Indian fishermen captured by Pak; 5 boats seized

In the fifth such incident since August, Pakistan coastal authorities have apprehended 28 Indian fishermen and seized five boats, a Gujarat-based fishermen's association said on Thursday.

The fishermen were captured by Pakistan Maritime Security Agency off the International Maritime Boundary Line in the Arabian Sea near Jakhau village in Kutch district on Wednesday afternoon, Porbandar Boat Association General Secretary Manish Lodhari said.

Five fishing boats were also seized, he said, adding this was the fifth such incident since the fishing season began on August 15 last year.

The boats and the fishermen, all hailing from Gujarat, were taken to Karachi on Thursday morning, he said.

Three of the boats were from Okha and the others from Porbandar, Lodhari said.

On September 20, 2013, PMSA had seized nine Indian boats and apprehended 58 fishermen off Porbandar coast. On October 12, 2013, PMSA had killed one Indian fisherman and captured 30 others from near the IMBL. Five Indian boats were also confiscated by the security agency.

Nine Indian boats were seized and 40 fishermen apprehended by PMSA on charges of illegally crossing IMBL off Jakhau coast on October 24, 2013.

In the fourth incident, nine Indian boats were seized and 22 fishermen taken into custody by PMSA off the IMBL last month.