Sunday, April 17 2005 15:25 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ahmedabad: About 156 Pakistani fishermen anguishing in jails in Jamnagar and Kutch districts today (Apr 17, 2005) left for their homes by a train from Ahmedabad after they were released by Indian authorities recently.

This step comes in the backdrop of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's three-day visit to India as part of confidence-building measures.

"These fishermen will be escorted upto the Indo-Pak border and handed over to officials across the border at Wagah," Jamnagar District Superintendent of Police, Manoj Shashidhar said.

One of the fishermen, 40-year old Ahmetullah, who was caught by Indian Coast Guard in 2002 said, "I feel happy to go home as a free man after 18 months. My family comprising two children, a wife and aged parents await me eagerly."

Regarding boats seized, Ahmetullah said that it was a matter that officials from both the sides should look into.

Among the 156 fishermen released, there were two young boys of which twelve-year-old Usman Gani had a narrow brush with death when Indian Coast Guard officials opened fire on the boat he was in, killing three of the nine people on board.

Usman said that before this incident happened he did not seriousness of straying into international waters.

He however, added that he was well treated by Indian security officials and had infact learnt cycling and cooking during his detention.

The president of Indian Fishermen Association (IFA) Velji Masani said, "The move to release Pakistani fishermen is encouraging and a delegation from our association is trying to meet Musharraf in New Delhi to give a representation of our problems."

Masani said that it was crucial that the boats of fishermen arrested from either side also be released soon.

He said that as per his information there were 38 more Pakistani fishermen detained in Indian jails, while there were 300 Indian fishermen in Pakistani jails.