February 25th 2025.
Ahmedabad was buzzing with excitement as twenty-two Indian fishermen, who had been released from Pakistan's Karachi jail, finally made it back to their homeland on Tuesday. The fishermen were overjoyed to be reunited with their families and expressed their gratitude towards the government for their safe return.
However, their joy was short-lived as they couldn't help but think about their fellow fishermen who were still stuck in Pakistani jails. These fishermen urged the government to take immediate action and expedite the release of their fellow fishermen who were languishing in the neighbouring country's jails.
It was revealed that the 22 fishermen had been apprehended by Pakistan's marine security agency between April 2021 and December 2022 while they were fishing near the maritime boundary in the Arabian Sea off Gujarat. This news came as a shock to their families and the community. The Assistant Director of Fisheries in Veraval, VK Gohel, stated that there were still 195 Indian fishermen in Pakistani jails, awaiting their release.
Out of the 22 fishermen who were released, 18 were from Gujarat, three from Diu in the neighbouring Union Territory, and one from Uttar Pradesh. The Gujarat government, in a statement, shared that the Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel had personally requested the Centre for the release of these fishermen.
The fishermen reached Vadodara via train on Monday evening after being handed over to the Indian authorities at the Wagah Border a few days ago. From Vadodara, they took a bus to reach their final destination, Veraval in Gir Somnath district, on Tuesday. As they arrived, their faces lit up with happiness and relief as they were finally back in their own country.
However, amidst their joy, the fishermen couldn't help but think about their fellow fishermen who were still stuck in Pakistani jails. They expressed their concern for their well-being and urged the government to do everything in their power to get them released as soon as possible. One of the released fishermen shared that their colleagues were suffering from diseases and facing food shortages, making their situation extremely difficult.
Another fisherman recounted his own experience of being caught by the Pakistani marine security agency three and a half years ago while fishing off the Gujarat coast. He shared that all 22 fishermen who had returned were sick, and there were still many more who were jailed in Pakistan. He pleaded with the government to expedite their release, stating that the conditions in the jails were unbearable.
The fishermen also brought with them a letter from their fellow fishermen who were still in Pakistani jails. The letter expressed their pain and suffering and requested the government to find a speedy resolution to their plight. It revealed that there were 150 fishermen in their group, out of which only 22 had been released so far. The letter also highlighted the deteriorating health conditions of the fishermen due to the stress and uncertainty of their situation.
Out of the 18 released fishermen from Gujarat, 14 were from Gir Somnath, three from Devbhoomi Dwarka, and one from Rajkot. In a reply to a Lok Sabha query on December 12, 2024, the Ministry of External Affairs shared that a total of 2,639 Indian fishermen had been repatriated from Pakistan since 2014. As of July 1, 2024, there were still 209 fishermen in Pakistani custody, out of which 51 had been imprisoned since 2021, 130 since 2022, nine since 2023, and 19 since 2024.
The fishermen and their families were grateful for their safe return but couldn't help but think about their colleagues who were still stuck in Pakistan. They hoped and prayed for a speedy resolution to their plight and for the safe return of all their fellow fishermen.
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