Around 266 Indian fishermen are currently locked up in foreign jails, as per the foreign ministry data presented in Lok Sabha on Feb 6 by Parshottam Rupala, minister of fisheries, animal husbandry, and dairying.

Most of these locked-up fishermen are from Gujarat, as per the breakdown of their locations presented by Rupala in the parliament.

Out of them, 184, along with their 1,172 boats, are currently in the possession of Pakistan’s authorities.

Other than that, 10 fishermen are locked up in Bahrain, while 31 are in Saudi Arabia.

41 fishermen from Tamil Nadu are also locked up in Sri Lanka, and their 87 boats are in the island country’s possession.

Rupala remarked that the government is carrying out talks with the neighbouring countries for the release of these fishermen. The government is dedicated to their release, he added.

It has been a common phenomenon for Indian fishermen, especially those from Gujarat, to be targeted by Pakistan’s coast guards.

The fishermen reportedly suffer in Pakistan’s custody, while their close ones urge the authorities for their return.

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