New Delhi: The Indian government has confirmed that at least 26 Indian fishermen have died while in Pakistan’s custody over the past decade, following their detention for allegedly crossing into Pakistan’s territorial waters. Despite the official confirmation, the family of a Gujarat fisherman who died in a Pakistani jail last month is still waiting for the return of his mortal remains.
According to a response from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad to a Right to Information (RTI) query, 24 fishermen died in Pakistan’s prisons between January 2014 and December 2023. With two more deaths reported this year, the toll has now reached 26 over a span of 10 years.
The RTI request was filed by Jatin Desai, a Mumbai-based journalist and peace activist working for fishermen’s welfare. Desai, a former general secretary of the India-Pakistan People’s Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD), highlighted that the deaths expose ongoing challenges in addressing the plight of fishermen arrested near the maritime boundary.
“On March 17, Vinod Laxman Kol, a fisherman from Palghar, Maharashtra, died in a Pakistani jail, and his body was returned to India on May 1. Similarly, Suresh Nathu Solanki from Gir Somnath, Gujarat, died in a Pakistani prison on September 5, but his remains are yet to be handed over,” Desai told The Indian Express.
Desai had also requested details of the fishermen’s deaths, including the exact dates and the repatriation timelines for their remains. However, the Indian High Commission denied the disclosure, citing Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, which exempts personal information that does not serve public interest or may invade individual privacy.
Disputes between India and Pakistan over the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) in the Arabian Sea, near the Kutch coast, have resulted in frequent detentions of fishermen. The Pakistan Marine Security Agency (PMSA) apprehends several Indian fishermen annually for allegedly entering Pakistani waters, while Indian authorities similarly detain Pakistani fishermen.
The delay in returning mortal remains has become a recurring concern. Desai criticized the slow repatriation process, calling it a human rights violation. “In the case of the Gujarat fisherman who died in September, his nationality was already verified, yet his family has not received his body even after a month,” he said.
A senior fisheries official from Gujarat noted that the deceased fisherman’s family had recently contacted state authorities for information. “Unfortunately, we have not received any formal communication from the Government of India regarding his death,” the official added.
The delayed repatriation process underscores the broader humanitarian challenges faced by the fishing communities affected by maritime disputes between the two nations.
