Gujarati fisherman lodged in Pakistani jail since 2022 dies in custody

Una: A Gujarati fisherman from Una, who had been lodged in a Pakistani jail since 2022, has died in custody. The fisherman, identified as Bhagabhai Parbatbhai Bamaniya from Chikhli village, passed away in a Pakistani prison on January 16.

Officials said his body is expected to be handed over to Indian authorities and will reach India on February 6 via the Wagah border. It will be brought to Ahmedabad before being sent to his native village for the last rites. The news has left the fisherman’s family in deep shock.

Over the past two years, at least five Indian fishermen have reportedly died in Pakistani jails. Indian fishermen are frequently detained by Pakistan Marine Security agencies after their boats allegedly stray across maritime boundaries.

According to a reply by the Ministry of External Affairs during the Winter Session of Parliament, an estimated 123 fishermen from Gujarat were lodged in Pakistani jails as of January 1, 2025. DeshGujarat