Pakistani Fishermen Apprehended in Indian Waters by Coast Guard
Nine Pakistani fishermen faced legal action on Friday after authorities caught them inside Indian waters. Porbandar Police in Gujarat booked the crew members for illegally crossing the maritime boundary.
Coast Guard Interception and Police Action
The Indian Coast Guard spotted the Pakistani fishing boat Al-Madina on January 14. The vessel was sailing in the Arabian Sea near the notional International Maritime Boundary Line. When challenged, the boat tried to escape toward Pakistan. Coast Guard personnel successfully intercepted and boarded it.
They found nine crew members on board. The Coast Guard towed the boat to the Porbandar coast and handed over the fishermen to Gujarat Police on Friday.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Dhruval Sutariya from the Ranavav Division confirmed the registration of a First Information Report. "We registered an FIR on behalf of the state at Navibandar police station against nine crew members," Sutariya told reporters.
Legal Charges and Court Proceedings
Police charged the fishermen under multiple acts:
- The Maritime Zones of India Act, 1981
- The Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zone Act, 1976
- The Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025
Authorities presented the fishermen before a local court in Porbandar on Saturday. They sought police remand for further investigation. After the remand period ends, police plan to send them to the Joint Interrogation Centre in Bhuj, Kutch.
Police verified all nine crew members are adults above eighteen years. Documents found in their possession showed registration in Karachi, Pakistan. Nothing suspicious was recovered from the boat during the search.
Understanding the "Notional" Maritime Boundary
A police official from the Coastal Security Wing explained the concept of the notional International Maritime Boundary Line. Indian territorial waters extend twelve nautical miles from the baseline. The Exclusive Economic Zone covers two hundred nautical miles.
When neighboring countries share waters, treaties usually define the boundary. Since India and Pakistan lack a clarified agreement, authorities use the term notional to indicate Indian waters in this context.
This incident occurs amid ongoing diplomatic efforts. Families of two hundred Indian fishermen from Gujarat, Diu, and Maharashtra recently met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. They sought the release of Indian fishermen imprisoned in Pakistan.
