Lok Sabha Question No. 46 (STARRED), answered on 2016-04-27
Subject: Fishermen in Foreign Jails
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: P.R. SUNDARAM, GOPALAKRISHNAN CHINNARAJ

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.46 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.04.2016

## FISHERMEN IN FOREIGN JAILS

*46 SHRI P.R. SUNDARAM: DR. C. GOPALAKRISHNAN:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  number  of  Indian  fishermen  apprehended/imprisoned  and their equipments  and fishing boats seized by forces of neighbouring countries, country-wise;
- (b) the time since when they have been imprisoned and the action taken to get them released along with fishing boats/ trawlers/ equipments 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 FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRIMATI SUSHMA SWARAJ)

- (a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  to  (d)  OF  LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  46  REGARDING  'FISHERMEN  IN FOREIGN JAILS' FOR ANSWER ON 27.04.2016

(a) & (b) As  per  information  available  with  the  Ministry,  the  country-wise details  of  fishermen  who  are  believed  to  be  apprehended/imprisoned  and  the  boats seized  by  the  forces  of  neighbouring  countries  and  their  release  are  attached  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 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 Magistrates in India to ascertain their Indian nationality 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 imprisonment in Bangladesh.

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## Annexure

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

| Year   | Bangladesh                               | Bangladesh                   | Pakistan                                                                                  | Pakistan                  | Sri Lanka                                   | Sri Lanka                 |
|--------|------------------------------------------|------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------------------------|---------------------------|
|        | 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                      |
| 2015   | 397                                      | All released and repatriated | 370                                                                                       | 335                       | 454                                         | 360                       |
| 2016   | 10                                       | Yet to be released           | 244 (Currently 220 persons, believed to be Indian fishermen, are still in Pakistan jails) | 172                       | 124 (Currently 13 fishermen are in custody) | 205                       |

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

| Year   | Bangladesh          | Bangladesh            | Pakistan            | Pakistan                          | Sri Lanka                              | Sri Lanka             |
|--------|---------------------|-----------------------|---------------------|-----------------------------------|----------------------------------------|-----------------------|
| Year   | 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                  | 57                                | 161                                    | 141                   |
| 2015   | 27                  | All released          | 34                  | boats are released in 2015        | 71                                     | 87 + 1 (drifted boat) |
| 2016   | 01                  | Yet to be released    | 44                  | Release of 22 boats under process | 23 (currently 93 boats are in custody) | -                     |

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