Pakistan jail has 260 Indian fishermen imprisoned in its custody as of 2016, as per information available with the Ministry of External Affairs. Neighbouring country Bangladesh has 10 Indian fishermen in its jail and Sri Lanka has apprehended 235 Indian fishermen. Whereas, Qatar has 30 Indian fishermen and United Kingdom has 19 Indian fishermen in their jail. Meanwhile, as of 2016, Pakistan has 44 Indian boat seized out of which release of 22 Indian boats is under process and Sri Lanka has seized 43 Indian boats, Bureaucracy Today has learnt. According to MEA, India has a bilateral Agreement on Consular Access with Pakistan signed in May 2008. The India-Pakistan Joint Judicial Committee, consisting of retired judges of superior judiciary from the two countries, visit jails in both countries to ensure humane treatment and expeditious release of prisoners, including fishermen on both sides, who have completed their prison terms. In the case of Sri Lanka, our Mission works closely with the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence, the Attorney General’s Office and the law enforcement agencies concerned, to secure the release and repatriation of our fishermen. There is a Joint Working Group on Fisheries and a Joint Committee on Fisheries, which take up fishermen’s issues for resolution on basis of the bilateral Understanding on Practical Arrangements of October 2008. In addition, talks are held from time to time between representatives of the Fishermen’s Associations in India and Sri Lanka. Whereas, on receipt of information of the arrest of Indian fishermen in Bangladesh, the Mission contacts the concerned District Magistrates in India to ascertain their Indian nationality and thereafter pursue with the Bangladesh authorities for their release. For this, Mission seeks consular access from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and contacts local NGOs for their welfare during their imprisonment in Bangladesh.
2008 ONWARDS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED