Five Indian fishermen who set out to sea from Qatar’s Wakrah have been detained by Abu Dhabi Coast Guard, according to a statement issued yesterday by South Asian Fishermen Fraternity (SAFF), based in Kanyakumari district of India's Tamil Nadu state.

The fishermen have been identified as Jerad Reegan (31), Karol Jahin (26), John Prabhahar (40), Jio Gladwin (35) and Jose Stalin (32), all natives of Kadiyapatanam coastal village in Kanyakumari district, SAFF general secretary Fr Churchil, who has signed the statement, has explained.
“The five fishermen sailed from Wakrah in their mechanised launch on August 25, 2017, and were arrested while engaged in fishing on August 27, 2017, by Abu Dhabi Coast Guard.
“On August 29, one of the detained fishermen, Karol Jahin, informed Probin, another Indian fisherman in Qatar, over phone, about their arrest and detention in Abu Dhabi.
“The families of the detained fishermen have sent petitions to India’s prime minister, external affairs minister and Tamil Nadu chief minister to take immediate action for their release and repatriation to India.
“A number of fisher women and men, led by Fr Churchil, met the district collector and submitted a petition seeking immediate action for the release and repatriation of the five detained fishermen,” the statement added.

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