Nine Pakistani fishermen arrested off Gujarat coast being probed

Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Aug 23(ANI): The Border Security Force (BSF) said on Sunday that an investigation was being carried out into this week's incident of nine Pakistani fishermen illegally entering Indian territorial waters off Gujarat.

Three of the nine Pakistanis, who were arrested on August 17 by the BSF from a boat in the Sir Creek area in Gujarat's Kutch district, would be subjected to polygraph test, said Raman Srivastava, the Director General of BSF.

"Six of the nine Pakistani fishermen who were held had fishing permits issued by Pakistan. The rest three did not even have that. They said they came here for fishing. We need to investigate to find out what the truth is," Srivastava said.

"The state police and the Border Security Force are investigating into the matter. Nothing can be said at the moment. But, these fishermen are definitely from Pakistan. Investigation is being carried out to find out other details," he added.

The arrest of nine Pakistanis came just two days after India's Independence Day and hours after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh warned of terror groups in Pakistan plotting fresh attacks in India.

Fishermen of either country often stray into each other's territorial waters and the neighbouring countries have instituted measures to facilitate their early repatriation, but the Mumbai attacks have made Indian Coast Guard and BSF to step vigil. (ANI)