Eight fishermen from Andhra Pradesh detained by Bangladesh Coast Guard

Visakhapatnam: As many as eight fishermen from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh have been detained by the Bangladesh Coast Guard after they allegedly strayed into territorial waters while fishing.

According to reports from various sources, a group of eight fishermen, including the driver of the boat had sailed out to sea from the Vizag fishing harbour on September 24 in a mechanised fishing boat named Amrita.

Due to bad weather conditions, the boat reportedly strayed into territorial waters and was held by the Bangladesh Coast Guard on October 2. The fishermen have been identified as Mylapalli Polaiah, R. Appanna, Vasupalli. Appanna, Mylapalli Narasimha, B. Ramu, Vasupalli Appa Rao, R. Ramu and V. Ramulu, all natives of Visakhapatnam city.

City police chief R.K. Meena said that one of the eight members informed his relatives in Vizag city that they were detained by the Bangladesh Coast Guard. The police said that they have informed higher officials, Central agencies and few political leaders about the development.

President of Dolphin Boat Operators’ Welfare Association Ch. Satyanarayana Murthy said that the it is common for fishermen straying into the territorial waters of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan. There is a bipartite agreement between Bangladesh and India. According to the agreement, fishermen are released after some time after the due process is followed.

The relatives of the eight fishermen on Friday met Member of Parliament, Vizag, M.V.V. Satyanarayana and city police chief R.K. Meena to requesting them to take steps to release the fishermen at the earliest.