163 fishermen released by Pak arrive at Wagah

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 4

At least 163 Indian prisoners, including seven minors, were repatriated from Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah joint check post late last night.

The fishermen, all from Gujarat, had inadvertently crossed over to Pakistan while fishing in the Arabian Sea. They were held captive by the Pakistani coast guards for "illegally" entering into their territory and were lodged in Malir and Landhi district jails in Karachi.

The freed fishermen were brought from Karachi to Wagah border in Lahore on emergency travel certificates issued by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.

They were handed over to Indian authorities at around 1 am. It was emotional scene at the border as majority to them kneeled down and kissing the ground while entering the Indian Territory. Later, their medical examination was conducted by a team of Indian doctors.

They have been provided accommodation at District Red Cross Bhawan, Amritsar, for their transit stay.

A 13-member team from Department of Fisheries, Gujarat, too has arrived here to receive them. They would return by the Golden Temple Express train to Gujarat at 9.30 pm tomorrow.

The fishermen said while in Pakistan jails, they had to perform all kind of odd jobs and were never paid. The only solace was from a charitable organisation, Karachi-based Bilquis Edhi, which paid them Rs5,000 each (Pakistani currency) at the time of their release and also arranged for their travel to Wagah.