An Indian fisherman, just before he was to be released along with 218 others on Thursday by Pakistan as a ‘goodwill gesture’, died of heart attack in a Karachi jail, according to Gujarat Fishermen Association. Deceased Jeeva Bhagwan (37) hailed from Khan Village in Una tehsil of Gir Somnath district of Gujarat, Veljibhai Masani, said senior vice president of Gujarat Fishermen Association.
According to jail superintendent Hasan Sehto, the fishermen were freed from Malir jail on the commands from the Interior Ministry as a ‘goodwill gesture’. So far, the total number of Indian fishermen freed from Pakistani jails as “goodwill gesture” in the last few days reached 439, regardless of the blockade in the bilateral ties.
Lately, on December 25, the Pakistan government had freed 220 Indian fishermen who were in jail for over a year as goodwill gesture after PM Narendra Modi wished counterpart Nawaz Sharif on his birthday.
The Indian fishermen who were released on Thursday were handed over to Indian officials at the Wagah border. Sehto said, about 110 more Indian fishermen remain in Landhi jail in Karachi.
The Pakistan had released 87 Indian fishermen who had been suffering in Karachi jail for the last two and half years in March last year.
Notably, Pakistan and India often arrest each other’s fishermen for violating territorial borderline. Underprivileged fishermen from both the nations habitually find themselves detained for illegal fishing as there is no clear boundary between the two countries in the Arabian Sea near Sir Creek.
Plus lack of machinery has made life tough for the fishermen of both the countries. Pakistan Maritime Security Agency detained 66 Indian fishermen for illegally fishing in Pakistan’s territorial waters just a week ago.
Eventually, fishermen from both nations end up suffering in jails for years. Their only hope of getting released is when the governments decide to take goodwill steps.
