A day after the Pakistan Marine Security Agency (PMSA) arrested 10 Gujarat fishermen with their two boats from International Maritime Boundary line (IMBL), Indian authorities apprehended 18 Pakistani nationals including two minors, from creek area near Koteshwar border outpost (BoP) along the India-Pak border with two fishing boats. According to Border Security Force (BSF), its Marine Battalion apprehended two Pakistani fishing boats inside Indian territory during patrolling in creek area near Koteshwar on Wednesday afternoon. “The two fishing boats with 18 persons on board were apprehended 32km off Koteshwar border outpost off Kutch. They have been brought to Koteshwar for further probe. BSF officials have taken the Pakistani fishermen to Nakhatrana town for medical check-up,” said police official from Narayan Sarovar police station. Those apprehended are residents of Chhacha Jan Khan, district Thatta in Sindh province of Pakisthan. BSF officials also found 350kg of fish, four fishing nets, an ice box and extra fuel stored in plastic cans. At present, BSF is interrogating the Pakistani fishermen and then they will be handed over to Dayapar police station where a complaint will be lodged against them for the violation of Indian Passport and Visa Act,” said the police official. Once the complaint is filed against the Pakistani nationals caught along the India-Pakistan land border as well as from inside the Indian waters, they are then sent to Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC) in Bhuj for questioning.

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