India releases four Pakistani prisoners

LAHORE: India handed over four Pakistani prisoners to Rangers personnel at Lahore's Wagah Border on Tuesday.

According to details, Javed Alam Shumail, Mohammad Alamgir, Hafiz Noman Butt and Shahnawaz were released by Indian authorities in return of 36 Indian fishermen who had served out their sentences and were repatriated to India from Karachi’s Malir district jail.

Three of the four prisoners were civilians, while one was a fisherman. The detainees were held in Indian prisons even after having served their sentences.

Accused of violating each other’s respective boundaries in the Arabian Sea, fishermen get arrested frequently by both Pakistani and Indian Authorities. An estimated 419 Indian fishermen are currently held in Karachi's District Prison Malir, whereas according to the Fishermen Cooperative Society, approximately 400 Pakistani fishermen are currently being held in Indian prisons.