20 fishermen apprehended by Pakistan

-Efforts on to release of detained persons
-Seven escaped and informed to locals

Srikakulam: In all 20 fishermen from Srikakulam and Vizianagaram district were apprehended by the Pakistan Marine security agency officials on Wednesday and it came to light on Thursday. According to Srikakulam district collector, K.Dhanunjaya Reddy and Andhra Pradesh Bhavan commissioner at New Delhi Arja Srikanth, total 27 fishermen from Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts went to Veeravalli of Gujarath state for fishing. Here the fishermen engaged mechanized boats from local traders for fishing. All the 27 fishermen went on fishing on four boats and three boats accidentally entered into Pakistan waters in the Arabian Sea immediately coast guards of the country detained the 20 fishermen and seized three boats.

Out of the total 20 fishermen 15 persons belonging to D.Matsyalesam and Badivanipeta villages in Etcherla mandal of Srikakulam district and five persons belonging to Tippalavalasa and Mukkam villages in Pusapatirega and Bhogapuram mandals of Vizianagaram district. The detained fishermen were identified as G.RamaRao, K.Yerrayya, K.Raju, M.Sanyasi Rao, M.Rambabu, S.AppaRao, S.Kalyan, S.Kishore, Ch.Gurumurthy, S.Sumanth, V.Samuel, B.Appanna, K.Venkatesh, K.Mani, M.Siva of Etcherla mandal. N.Appanna, N.Konda, N.DhanaRaju, B.Baviridu, M.Guruvulu of Vizianagaram district.

Minister for energy, K.Kala Venkata Rao who is representing as an MLA from Etcherla assembly segment is making efforts for release of detained fishermen. AP state government is making efforts for the safe release of detained fishermen through central government. ‘We are updating information to both central and AP governments on the issue regularly’ AP Bhavan commissioner, Arja Srikanth told The Hans India.