89 Indian fishermen repatriated across Wagah land border

Eighty-nine Indian fishermen freed from prison by Pakistan were repatriated across the Wagah land border today, an official said.

The Pakistan Rangers handed over the fishermen, released from a jail in Karachi yesterday, to India's Border Security Force.

"We handed over the 89 Indian fishermen coming from Karachi to Indian authorities," Pakistan Rangers spokesperson Mehboob Hussain told PTI.

The Indian prisoners had been detained between 2009 and this year. Some of the fishermen sad they were sad as they were leaving behind their close relatives.

At least three of the Indian fishermen had been in touch with their Pakistani relatives during their imprisonment.

While Ramesh, 27, was looking forward to meeting his mother, two brothers, four sisters, wife and two children in India, he said he was as he was leaving behind his father in prison.

His father, also a fisherman, was arrested recently for allegedly violating the maritime boundary.