Hyderabad: Nine fishermen hailing from the north coastal Andhra districts of Srikakulam and Vizianagaram were arrested by the Pakistan coast guards, after they left the Gujarat coast of Viravala and ventured into international waters.
According to Andhra Pradesh officials in Amarvati, four of the fishermen were from Srikakulam and five others were from Tippavalasa in Vizianagaram district.
State minister Kala Venkat Rao alerted Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in Hyderabad and he asked officials at Andhra Pradesh Bhavan in New Delhi to get the central government’s aid to get the fishermen freed.
The fishermen had moved from Andhra Pradesh to Gujarat in search of a livelihood, officials said.
“Indian government officials were contacting the Pakistani officials and steps were being taken to get the fishermen released,” Rao said.
Naidu directed the state government officials to be in touch with the families of those in Pakistan’s custody and reassure them.
