THATTA: Indian coastguards intruded into Pakistani territorial waters in the Rann of Kutch region and took away 26 Pakistani fishermen along with their five boats, it emerged on Wednesday.

The violation of Pakistan’s territory by the Indian coastguards occurred near the Sir Creek.

According to Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) chairman Mohammad Ali Shah, the incident took place on Sunday and the held fishermen had been shifted to a prison in the Indian state of Gujarat for interrogation.

Local PFF representative Syed Gulab Shah said that four of the 26 held fishermen were underage, adding that the fishermen belonged to Mohammad Ali Mallah and Sher Ali Solangi villages of Jangeesar.

However, there has been no official confirmation about the incident.

More than 50 fishermen belonging to Thatta and Sujawal districts are already languishing in various prisons in Indian Gujarat.

Published in Dawn December 22nd, 2016