Ramesh Mathew / Gulf Times

Doha, May 23: Twenty-six Indian fishermen coming from Saudi Arabia have been detained by Qatar’s Coast Guard for allegedly straying into the country’s waters, sources said.

The Coast Guard has seized their six or seven boats. The detained fishermen have been housed in their boats, berthed near Ruweis fishing harbour.

A representative of the fishermen said they had not been arrested but only “detained” by the Coast Guard for entering Qatar’s  waters.  No case has been registered against the fishermen.

The Ministry of Interior, when contacted for comment, gave a similar answer. A ministry official said the issue was being dealt with the Coasts and Boundaries Department.  

Sources said the fishermen, who left Dammam sometime early this month, were detained on May 5. However, their sponsors from Saudi Arabia are yet to seek their release. At least four of the sponsors had reportedly visited them so far.

Since the fishermen have not been “arrested”, according to the Coast Guard officials, they are relying on their Qatari counterparts for food.

On learning about fishermen’s plight, a Doha-based charity gave them food at least on two occasions.

Indian Ambassador George Joseph said the mission had been informed of the incident just a couple of days ago, and it was trying to secure their release.

The envoy said he was trying to find a permanent solution to the issue as an overwhelming majority of fishermen working in the GCC states were Indians, particularly from Tamil Nadu.

Last year too, over 30 Indian fishermen from Dammam and their six boats were detained by the Qatari Coast Guard for straying into the country’s waters.

They were held for more than two months before their sponsors paid the fines and took the boats and fishermen back.