Lok Sabha Question No. 134 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-16
Subject: Fishermen in foreign Jails
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: PINAKI MISRA, T.G. VENKATESH BABU, MD. BADARIDDOZA KHAN, OM BIRLA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.134 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.11.2016

## FISHERMEN IN FOREIGN JAILS

134.  SHRI PINAKI MISRA: SHRI MD. BADARUDDOZA KHAN:

SHRI VENKATESH BABU T.G.: SHRI OM BIRLA:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of Indian fishermen apprehended/ imprisoned/ attacked  and  their  equipments and  fishing  boats seized  by  security  forces  of  various  countries,  country-wise during the last three years;
- (b) the time since when they have been imprisoned and the action taken to get them released along with fishing boats/ trawlers/ equipment and the success achieved in this regard;
- (c) whether  any  meeting  has  been  fixed  with  the  authorities  of other countries for amicable settlement of the issues; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the other measures taken by the Government  to  help  and  safeguard  the  interest  of  these imprisoned fishermen?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a) & (b) As  per  information  available  with the Ministry, the country-wise  details  of  fishermen  apprehended/imprisoned  and  the boats under custody in foreign countries, along with details of their release are given in the Annexure.
- (c) & (d) The  Government  attaches  the  highest  priority  to  the safety,  security  and  welfare  of  Indian  fishermen.  Our  Missions  and Posts regularly seek consular access to Indian fishermen detained

in foreign countries, ensure their welfare and also pursue their early release and repatriation, along with their boats. Given the humanitarian and livelihood dimensions of this issue, the Government has put in place several bilateral mechanisms to ensure cooperation  and  understanding  between  India  and  the  countries concerned, to promote the safety and security of Indian fishermen. In  case  of  Pakistan,  we  have  a  bilateral  Agreement  on Consular  Access,  signed  in  May  2008.  The  India-Pakistan  Joint Judicial Committee, consisting of retired judges of superior judiciary from  the  two  countries,  visit  jails  in  both  countries  to  ensure humane  treatment  and  expeditious  release  of  prisoners,  including fishermen on both sides, who have completed their prison terms. In  the  case  of  Sri  Lanka,  our  Mission works  closely  with the Sri  Lankan  Ministry  of  Defence,  the  Attorney  General's  Office  and the law enforcement agencies concerned, to secure the release and repatriation  of  our  fishermen.  There  is  a  Joint  Working  Group  on Fisheries  and  a  Joint  Committee  on  Fisheries,  which  take  up fishermen's issues for resolution on basis of the bilateral Understanding  on  Practical  Arrangements  of  October  2008.  In addition, talks are held from time to time between representatives of the Fishermen's Associations in India and Sri Lanka. In  the  case  of  Bangladesh,  on  receipt  of  information  of  the arrest of Indian fishermen, Mission contacts the concerned District and thereafter pursue with the Bangladesh authorities for their release. For  this,  Mission  seeks  consular  access  from  Ministry  of  Foreign Affairs  and  contacts  local  NGOs  for  their  welfare  during  their

Magistrates in India to ascertain their Indian nationality imprisonment in Bangladesh.

*****

## FISHERMEN IN FOREIGN JAILS

## Statement showing year-wise and country-wise apprehension of Indian fishermen and their release

| Year             | Bangladesh                                | Bangladesh                   | Pakistan                                  | Pakistan                  | Sri Lanka                                | Sri Lanka                 | Qatar                                     | Qatar                     | United Kingdom                            | United Kingdom            |
|------------------|-------------------------------------------|------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|---------------------------|------------------------------------------|---------------------------|-------------------------------------------|---------------------------|-------------------------------------------|---------------------------|
|                  | No. of fishermen apprehended / imprisoned | No. of fishermen released    | No. of fishermen apprehended / imprisoned | No. of fishermen released | No. of fishermen apprehended/ imprisoned | No. of fishermen released | No. of fishermen apprehended / imprisoned | No. of fishermen released | No. of fishermen apprehended / imprisoned | No. of fishermen released |
| 2013             | 73                                        | All released and repatriated | 379                                       | 390*                      | 676                                      | 403                       | -                                         | -                         | -                                         | -                         |
| 2014             | 203                                       | All released and repatriated | 435                                       | 185                       | 787                                      | 1060*                     | -                                         | -                         | 14                                        | 14                        |
| 2015             | 397                                       | All released and repatriated | 370                                       | 335                       | 454                                      | 360                       | -                                         | -                         | 23                                        | 23                        |
| 2016 - till date | 10                                        | All released and repatriated | 260                                       | 190                       | 235                                      | 247*                      | 30                                        | 25                        | 19                                        | 19                        |

(* This number also includes fishermen arrested in previous years and not released earlier.)

## Statement showing year-wise and country-wise seizure of boats and their release

| Year   | Bangladesh          | Bangladesh            | Pakistan            | Pakistan                          | Sri Lanka           | Sri Lanka             |
|--------|---------------------|-----------------------|---------------------|-----------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|
|        | No. of boats seized | No. of boats released | No. of boats seized | No. of boats released             | No. of boats seized | No. of boats released |
| 2013   | 5                   | All released          | Not available       | Not available                     | 126                 | 59                    |
| 2014   | 17                  | All released          | 57                  | -                                 | 164                 | 141                   |
| 2015   | 27                  | All released          | 34                  | 57                                | 71                  | 87+1 (drifted boat)   |
| 2016   | 01                  | All released          | 44                  | Release of 22 boats under process | 43                  | -                     |

## Annexure