Tuesday, March 22 2005 15:36 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Wagah (Punjab): As many as 568 Indian prisoners, mostly fishermen, returned to their homeland today (March 22, 2005) after being released from Karachi jail where they were imprisoned for allegedly entering Pakistan illegally.

The 529 fishermen and 39 civilian prisoners, who had completed their prison terms, were handed over to Indian authorities by their Pakistani counterparts at the border crossing in Wagah.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was among those who received them at a ceremony here.

The prisoners had been released from Karachi jail on Sunday (March 20, 2005) but could cross the Wagah border yesterday (March 21, 2005) due to bad weather.