Andhra fishermen held by Pak, Naidu seeks Delhi help

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed the AP Resident Commissioner in Delhi to coordinate with Indian Embassy officials in Karachi for release of stranded fishermen.

The embassy officials have assured the state government all help in getting the fishermen released safely.

At least eight fishermen from two coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh are among the 21 Indian fishermen said to have been detained by Pakistan Marine Security Agency on charge of entering Pak territorial waters. They are said to have been moved to Karachi for interrogation.

There were four fishermen each from Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts in north coastal AP. Kin of the stranded fishermen are worried about their safety.

B Polamma, whose nephew Bade Appanna (28) was among those detained by Pak, said: “We learnt from fellow fishermen yesterday that 21 were detained by the Pakistan officials. We are worried about their safety. If they have crossed the border, it is out of ignorance and not intentional”.

Pak is said to have charged them with coming 85 nautical miles from Indian shore, violating the norm that they should not cross 50 nautical miles.

Etcherla police officials conducted enumeration of the missing fishermen in the village on Thursday. “We are planning to meet the district collector on Friday,” Polamma said.

Went in Sept

The fishermen went to Gujarat in September, like every year. They usually return in February– March, after the season ends. They had completed three rounds of fishing in the last two months and were on the fourth round.

Among those said to have been detained are: Ganagalla Rama Rao, Kesam Erraiah, Surada Appa Rao and Surada Kishore from D Matsalesam village in Srikakulam.