AMRITSAR, Feb 17:
Pakistan Government in a goodwill gesture last night handed over 173 prisoners to Border Security Force after the Beating Retreat Ceremony held at Wagah, the land transit route of International Attari-Wagah border, 30 km from here.
The released included 172 Indian fishermen and one civilian handed over to the BSF.
Naib Tehsildar Amar Singh of Attari, who received the fishermen from BSF while they crossed over to Indian Territory on the basis of ‘Emergency Travel Certificate’ nissued by the Islamabad-based Indian High Commission, sent them to the holy city here after conducting the medical examination in three State roadways buses.
The fishermen had slipped to Pakistan through Arabian Sea during fishing, where they were held by the Pakistani coast guards for illegal fishing.
The moment group of Indian fishermen crossed over to India, they humbly bowed down their forehead, paid obeisance to the Indian soil and kissed it with passion.
Earlier, the freed prisoners were brought from Karachi to Wagah border in Lahore, from where they were handed over to Indian authorities.
They said ‘it was very difficult to identify the territorial water during fishing in the Arabian Sea, which always put the Indian fishermen in deep trap when they reach Pakistan and face arrest for illegal fishing.’
After repatriation now, Indian fishermen would not be able to rejoin their profession of fishing once again, since their costly boat was still in the possession of the Pakistan Government.
The fishermen claimed that the cost of one boat varied from Rs three lakh to 10 lakh depending upon its quality and size.(UNI)
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