Coast Guard Rescues Seven Fishermen from Pakistani Custody
Ahmedabad: The Indian Coast Guard has successfully rescued seven fishermen who were detained by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) off the coast of Gujarat. The fishermen were reportedly held on their boat near the maritime border between the two countries, officials confirmed on Monday.
The dramatic rescue unfolded on Sunday afternoon when the Coast Guard received a distress signal from an Indian fishing vessel operating in a No-Fishing Zone. The call indicated that another boat, named Kal Bhairav, had encountered problems after being intercepted by a PMSA vessel, leading to the detention of its seven crew members.
According to the Coast Guard, the emergency call came in around 3:30 PM. Without delay, they dispatched a ship to the area near the India-Pakistan Maritime Boundary. In a swift response, the Coast Guard intercepted the PMSA vessel and negotiated the release of the detained fishermen.
The rescuers managed to bring the seven crew members back safely, and they were found to be in good health. However, it was reported that the Kal Bhairav had sustained damage and ultimately sank during the incident.
Upon returning to Okha harbor on Monday, a joint investigation was launched involving the Coast Guard, Gujarat police, intelligence agencies, and the fisheries department to examine the events leading to the collision between the PMSA vessel and the fishing boat, as well as the rescue operation itself.
