Ahmedabad, Sept 08: Seven out of the 13 fishermen, reported "missing" in Arabian Sea since yesterday after their release from Pakistani jails on Friday, have reached Okha Port in Gujarat today, official sources here said. "All the six who have reached along with their boat `Dhanprasad' are fine but exhausted from their journey. The seven remaining will reach anytime now,” Sub-Inspector of Okha Police Station N V Patel told news agencies here.

The 13 fishermen were traced late last night and brought back to Indian shores after a 24-hour joint search operation by Indian and Pakistani coast guards and aerial reconnaisence.

Of the 269 Indian fishermen released from Pakistani jails three days ago, 256 fishermen arrived at Okha Port yesterday.

Two boats `Dhanprasad' and `Subhash Sagar', carrying 12 fishermen and a Khalasi were missing after they crossed the international water border.
The fishermen, including 30 members of cargo ships, were arrested by Pakistani marine officials around an year ago.


Bureau Report