Stranded: Missing fishermen in Indian jail

Ten crew members of 'Mashallah' boat are reported alive in an Indian jail.

KARACHI: The 10 crew members of the boat ‘Mashallah’, which went missing on January 17 2010, are alive in an Indian jail, according to a statement issued by Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) on Thursday. The statement further said that it was in close contact with Pakistani authorities and was working with civil society organisations for the rights of fishermen in India.

According to the information, the fishermen are alive in Karnataka state jail, India. Earlier there were conflicting reports about these missing persons. Some people were of view that the boat had capsized during fishing, resulting in the deaths of all the crew members, but others said that they had been arrested by the Indian security agencies.

“We have received a letter from the police that the missing fishermen are in an Indian jail,” said a spokesman for PFF. The crew belonged to Baba Bhitt Island and Muhajir Camp, Karachi.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2010.