17 Bangladeshi fishermen sent to jail custody

Paradip, Oct 23 (UNI) All the 17 Bangladeshis fishermen arrested by the police yesterday for fishing illegally inside the Indian territory, were remanded to jail custody today by a Judicial Magistrate at Kujang.

The Paradip police arrested the Bangladeshi fishermen and seized a deep sea vessel ''FB Sahajahan-2'' from their possession on charges of illegally fishing in the Bay of Bengal, 35 nautical miles off Paradeep Port.

According to Paradip Police station OIC Bhabanishankar Mishra, the Coast guard personnel intercepted the foreign nationals after chasing their vessel inside the sea while they were catching fish by entering inside the Indian waters violating the Maritime Zone of the Indian Act .

The officials of Paradip Port Trust (PPT), Custom , Fishery and Immigration officials interrogated the fishermen after they were brought to Paradip by the Coast Guard.

The Police also seized about seven quintals of fish from the vessel.

The state Home Department has been informed about the incident.

UNI XC-DP KK/src2004