The advisory comes against the backdrop of a 40-year-old fisherman venturing 10 nautical miles into the Pakistani waters and being shot dead on September 18. On October 15, another fisherman was injured when his boat was in Pakistani waters. The injured fisherman, identified as Dhanji Bamaniya, was let off on humanitarian grounds along with five others who sailed back to Jakhau coast. Pakistan's Maritime Security Agency (MSA) also arrested 24 fishermen the same day.
"We have informed the Fisheries Department of Gujarat government about this. On our part we can only seize their documents and hand it over to the state authorities," a Coast Guard official said.
There have been several instances of Indian fishermen venturing into Pakistani maritime boundary and vice-versa. As per the figures till October 20, some 790 fishing boats have been seized by Pakistan's MSA. This year alone, around 205 fishermen were arrested and 35 boats serized by the MSA for venturing into Pakistani waters.
The delegation will comprise two representatives of boat owners, two mechanics, an official of Gujarat fisheries department and a member from state fishermen's association. Some repairs will be required before the 22 boats can be brought back to Gujarat.