PORBANDAR--While handing back fishing trawlers repatriated from Pakistan, Gujarat Fisheries Minister Babubhai Bokhiria asked fishermen to try and ensure that their boats are not detained by the neighbouring country.
Bokhiria handed over letters of possession of 57 fishing boats repatriated from Pakistan to their owners at a ceremony held on jetty of Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) in Porbandar port on Tuesday. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) had escorted the boats to Porbandar port on Monday evening after Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) delivered them at Indo-Pak Internation Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), some 105 nautical miles off Karachi on Sunday afternoon. Dilip Lodhari, president of Samast Kharva Samaj of Porbandar, a social organisation of fishermen, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and Bokhiria for bringing the boats back from Pakistan.
“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.
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.
The Indian Express
