Visakhapatnam, Nov 30 (NationPress) Thirteen fishermen from Bangladesh were apprehended by the marine police in the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh on Sunday.

The fishermen had arrived at Musavanipeta in the Etcherla mandal after becoming stranded at sea, having exhausted their fuel and food supplies.

As per the marine police, their boat had reportedly drifted toward the coasts of West Bengal and Odisha before finally reaching the Srikakulam coast.

Local fishermen alerted the marine police after noticing the boat at sea, and the behavior of those aboard seemed suspicious. Marine police Circle Inspector P. Prasada Rao and local Sub-Inspector G. Lakshman Rao, along with their team, hastened to the coast.

Three boats were dispatched to retrieve the stranded boat and its occupants. Based on their language and attire, the individuals were identified as Bangladeshi fishermen.

The police took them into custody for questioning. The Bangladeshi fishermen were starving and frightened, making communication with the police challenging. Some local fishermen, who had a basic understanding of Bangla, assisted in gathering information.

The fishermen recounted that they had lost their way while fishing in Bangladeshi waters and accidentally drifted toward the Indian coast.

They reported having gone without food for the past 15 days. Local residents provided them with food and medicine.

They were subsequently transported to the Kalingapatnam Police Station. The marine police stated that they would file a case against the fishermen for entering Indian waters without permission.

The police also indicated they would notify the Bangladesh Coast Guard about the fishermen’s unauthorized entry.

In a similar incident back in 2008, a group of Bangladeshi fishermen drifted into Indian waters and reached Etcherla. They were later handed over to Bangladeshi authorities after all legal procedures were completed.