Lok Sabha Question No. 55 (STARRED), answered on 2016-07-20
Subject: Indian Fishermen in Foreign Jails
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: VASANTHI M., PARAYAMPARANBIL KUTTAPPAN BIJU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.55 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2016

## INDIAN FISHERMEN IN FOREIGN JAILS

*55. SHRIMATI VASANTHI M.: SHRI P. K. BIJU:

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 by 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 EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRIMATI SUSHMA SWARAJ)

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

*****

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  55  REGARDING  'INDIAN FISHERMEN IN FOREIGN JAILS' FOR ANSWER ON 20.07.2016

(a) & (b) As per information available with the Ministry, the country-wise details of fishermen apprehended/imprisoned and the boats seized by the forces of neighbouring 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 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.

*****

## 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                                       | All released and repatriated | 202 (Currently 261 persons, believed to be Indian fishermen, are still in Pakistan jails) | 190                       | 226                                      | 247*                      |

(* 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             |
|--------------|---------------------|-----------------------|------------------------|-------------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------------|
| 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                   | Not available          | Not available                             | 126                 | 59                    |
| 2014 17 2015 |                     | released              | 57                     | 57 boats were released in 2015 Release of | 161                 | 141                   |
| 27           |                     | 34                    |                        |                                           | 71                  | 87 + 1 (drifted boat) |
| 2016         | 01                  | 44                    | 22 boats under process | 40                                        |                     | -                     |

*****