Vadodara: Pakistani marines have arrested at least 83 Indian fishermen from Jakhau seaport area off Gujarat, Indian Fishermen Association (IFA) has claimed in Vadodara.

"The Pakistani marine security strayed into Indian Territory and captured these fishermen. Eighteen of their boats too were seized by the Pakistani authorities last evening (Dec 11, 2004)," IFA president Veljibhai Masani told sources in Vadodara today (Dec 12, 2004).

With this, the total number of arrested Indian fishermen now languishing in Pakistan jails has gone up to 849 while the number of the seizure of the Indian boats in Pakistan's custody has gone up to 151 from 133, he claimed.

Just two days ago, the Pakistani agency had taken into custody 41 fishermen along with their several boats from the Jakhau seaport area, he said.

Masani further alleged that the Pakistani security agency continues to arrest Indian fishermen despite both the Indian and Pakistani authorities agreeing not to arrest respective fishermen in Islamabad in January this year.