Foreign fishermen who stray into India’s territorial waters in Andhra Pradesh and are apprehended will now be repatriated in the shortest possible time. The state government has set up a three-tier system to quickly release captured fishermen, cargo, boats and crew to maintain good relationship with neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka, Burma, Bangladesh and other countries in consultation with the Centre.
As per the new time frame, FIR has to be filed immediately and the fisherman if found innocent will be repatriated within 30 days of capture. “In order to evolve an efficient procedure to streamline the release of captured foreign fishing cargo, boats, crew and fishermen, the state government has proposed to institutionalise a Joint Interrogation Committee mechanism to take measures for the release and repatriation of such fishermen if they have no incriminating evidence with them,” said Mr S. Bhale Rao, special chief secretary to government, animal husbandry, dairy development and fisheries department.
Many fishermen, especially from Sri Lanka stray into Indian waters and are apprehended by the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard frequently. Sri Lanka’s external affairs ministry took up the issue of repatriation of their fishermen with the Union ministry of external affairs. As some of the fishermen were languishing in jails for months a new procedure was evolved. Apprehended fishermen are booked by state police under the Foreigners Act and are imprisoned for a period of 6 to 12 months by orders of the respective courts besides being penalised for Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000.
In case the fishermen are unable to pay fine, they are subjected to additional months of imprisonment. In some cases punishment goes up to 5 years and fine up to Rs 15 lakh. The government has nominated Principal Secretary to Government, Home Department as the Nodal Officer at the State level to liaise with