KARACHI, Nov 14: The Maritime Security Agency (MSA) has arrested nine more Indian fishermen and seized their five boats for fishing in Pakistani waters, said an official statement issued on Wednesday.

“During routine patrolling by the MSA unit on Nov 13, five Indian fishing boats along with the nine crew members were apprehended for poaching well inside Pakistani waters (around 30 kilometres from the border),” said the MSA statement. Only on Sunday, the government as a goodwill gesture had released 15 Indian fishermen from the Malir district prison out of total 157 Indian fishermen behind bars in Pakistan. With the latest arrest, the number of detained Indian fishermen reaches 151.

The MSA stated that the nine fishermen were later handed over to the Docks police. An FIR (371/2012) against them was registered at the Docks police station.

“The FIR has been registered on behalf of the state under Sections ¾ of the Foreign Act and 3/9 of the Fishery Act,” said an official at the Docks police station.

The MSA claimed that this year alone the agency had arrested 277 Indian fishermen and seized their 103 boats.

“It’s pertinent to mention that Indian fishermen continue to intrude in Pakistan’s rich Indus Delta region containing high-quality fish, at the cost of the livelihood of local fishermen resulting in depletion of our fish stocks and ecological damage,” stated the MSA.