Mangaluru: NRI fishermen released by Iran return home finally

Mangaluru, Jan 18: A group of fishermen from Uttar Kannada working in United Arab Emirates who had been held captive by Iran for allegedly straying into Iranian waters last year, have finally returned to their native district through Mangaluru International Airport. They were released by Iran earlier this month.

According to sources, some among the 18 such fishermen from Uttara Kannada landed in Mangaluru by an Air India Express flight from Dubai at 5 p.m. on Wednesday and later left for Uttara Kannada by road.

Yaseen Panibudo, brother of Khalil Panibudo (38) who was one among the released fishermen, said that his elder brother was among eight fishermen who landed in Mangaluru. While other sources put the number of fishermen who landed in the airport at six.

Mr. Khalil Panibudo is from Heble village. “His five children and wife and all other family members were eagerly waiting for his return. We are very happy now,” Mr. Yaseen Panibudo said late in the evening. “They are yet to reach Bhatkal,” he said and added that he did not have much information about the other fishermen who arrived with Mr. Khalil Panibudo.

Mr. Yaseen Panibudo said that his elder brother had visited his native place about nine months ago. He had been held captive for the last about five months for allegedly entering Iranian waters near Kish island on July 27, 2018. Mr. Khalil Panibudo was earning his livelihood in Dubai as a fisherman.

He said that fishermen from Uttara Kannada were among 28 fishermen released last week. The others were from Ratnagiri and Dubai itself. Later, they all reached Dubai with their boats.

K.T. Thandel, vice-president, Karnataka Fishermen Action Committee, was happy to learn about the return of fishermen. He said that a particular sect of Muslims in and around Murdeshwar are experts in fishing. Some of them working on fishing boats in Dubai were caught by Iranian authorities for certain violations, he said.

Meanwhile, he would discuss the Malpe missing boat issue at the forthcoming all India fish workers conference in Gujarat from January 26, Mr. Thandel added.