KARACHI, Oct 17: Twelve Indian fishermen were arrested and remanded in judicial custody on Wednesday for fishing inside Pakistani waters.

The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) picked up the fishermen, impounded their two boats and handed them over to the Docks police station.

“The men are grownups, no children this time,” a policeman at the Docks police station said, adding that all hailed from the Indian state of Gujarat.

The Docks police produced the fishermen before a judicial magistrate (west), who sent them to prison on judicial remand till Oct 28.

The magistrate directed the investigation officer to file a charge-sheet on the next date.

A case (FIR 340/12) was registered against the Indian fishermen under Sections 3/4 of the Foreigners Act and 3/9 of the Fisheries Act at the Docks police station.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) spokesperson Sami Memon said that the fishermen crossed over from the disputed Sir Creek to the Pakistan side. “Sometimes they even come as far as Keamari without realising how far they have come into foreign territory until they get caught.”

Just last week, PMSA also caught 24 Indian fishermen.