In a tragic development, an Indian fisherman identified as Babu died in Karachi jail on Thursday, according to official sources. Babu, who was arrested by Pakistani authorities in 2022, had completed his sentence and had his Indian nationality confirmed. Despite this, Pakistani authorities did not release him, leading to growing concerns over the plight of Indian fishermen in Pakistan’s custody.
Eighth Indian Fisherman Death in Two Years
Babu’s death marks the eighth such case of an Indian fisherman dying in Pakistan over the past two years. The situation has brought renewed focus to the 180 Indian fishermen currently in Pakistani jails, who have completed their sentences but continue to await release.
The delays in releasing these prisoners have caused distress for families back in India and prompted the Indian government to take up the matter with Pakistan repeatedly. “India has been continuously raising the issue of early release of prisoners with the Pakistan side,” an official source said.
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India-Pakistan Maritime Disputes
The frequent arrest of Indian fishermen often stems from inadvertent crossings of the maritime boundary between India and Pakistan in the Arabian Sea. Both countries regularly detain fishermen on charges of trespassing, even though such incidents are usually unintentional due to the lack of clear markers in the sea.
While there have been periodic exchanges of prisoners as goodwill gestures, the bureaucratic and political hurdles have delayed the release of many, worsening the humanitarian crisis for detained fishermen.
