KARACHI, April 10: The Maritime Security Agency has arrested 38 more Indian fishermen and detained their 11 boats for fishing in Pakistani territorial waters illegally.

Confirming the arrests, an MSA official told Dawn that they were handed over to Docks Police for further action.

Earlier, the MSA had apprehended 15 Indian fishermen on the same charge.

The fresh arrests have brought the number of detained Indian fishermen to more than 50 in a series of such action.

In Feb last, Pakistan had released 280 Indian fishermen as a gesture of goodwill. More than 100 Pakistani fishermen are still languishing in Indian prisons and waiting for their release.

The fishermen communities of both the countries have been demanding an early release of the fellows.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in both the countries have been pressing the two governments to consider the release of fishermen on humanitarian grounds. They are of the view that the detained fishermen could not be treated as criminals.