Indian Coast Guard brings back six fishermen from Myanmar

On Board ICGS Vajra, Port Blair, Nov 30 (UNI) The Indian Coast Guard today brought back six Indian fishermen from Yangon, who had inadvertently drifted to Myanmar in September due to engine failure.

''All the six fishermen were in good health and broke down when they reunited with their family members on board Indian Coast Guard Ship Vajra at Port Blair, after its arrival,'' Deputy Inspector General of Coast Guard, Andaman and Nicobar Region, K R Nautiyal told UNI.

Mr Nautiyal said ICGS Vajra, ICGS Ganga Devi and ICGS Akka Devi had sailed for Yangon on November 24 for repatriation of 160 Myanmar fishermen who had completed their jail term in Andaman for illegal poaching in Andaman waters and while returning these ships brought back all six Andaman fishermen from Yangon.

Last year, Coast Guard ships had repatriated 432 Myanmar fishermen. The Coast Guard Ships had also brought back four innocent Indian fishermen from these far-flung islands.

''All the fishermen, including two 17-year-old boys, were kept in Sri Krishna Temple of Yangoon by Myanmar Government and all of them were comfortable,'' the DIG added.

DIG Nautiyal also lauded the efforts of the Andaman and Nicobar administration, political leaders and Coast Guard personnel for the successful repatriation of all these six fishermen. He also lauded the efforts of local media for creating pressure in this regard.

Indian Coast Guard Ship Vajra is based at Visakhapatnam, while ICGS Ganga Devi and Akka Devi are based at Port Blair.

The repatriation has been planned consequent to an agreement between the Union of Myanmar and Indian Government.

Senior officers of Andaman and Nicobar Administration, Mr S N Jha, the Deputy Commissioner of South Andaman Region, Mr Krishnamurthy Director Fisheries Department and the Chairman of South Andaman Zilla Parishad, Miss Mariyam Bibi were also present during the ceremony on board ICGS Vajra, to mark the arrival of six Indian fishermen.

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