The body of Ghurahu Bind, a fisherman from Uttar Pradesh’s Jaunpur district who died under mysterious circumstances while imprisoned in a Pakistani jail, is expected to arrive at his native village Basiraha on Friday, officials confirmed.
Bind, a resident of Machhlishahr tehsil, was arrested by the Pakistan Coast Guard in 2020 after allegedly drifting into Pakistani waters while fishing off the Okha coast in Gujarat. He had been lodged in a Pakistani jail for the past five years along with three other fishermen from his village, who are still behind bars.
District Magistrate Dinesh Chandra said the mortal remains of Bind have been received at the Wagah border and are currently en route to Jaunpur. “The family will be given all eligible state welfare benefits, including under the Chief Minister Housing Scheme and the widow pension plan,” Chandra said. He has instructed the sub-divisional magistrate of Machhlishahr to ensure proper arrangements for the final rites.
Family Suspects Torture, Demands Autopsy
Bind’s family was officially informed of his death earlier this week by the Department of Fisheries, after an alert was received from the Indian embassy and the Directorate of Fisheries in Lucknow. Fisheries Inspector Sambhashi Tripathi visited the family to convey the tragic news.
The family suspects that Bind may have died by suicide due to torture in prison. A WhatsApp message that circulated in the village claimed his death occurred around 15 days ago. The family has demanded that a post-mortem be conducted in India to determine the true cause of death. They also urged the government to initiate a formal investigation into the incident.
Bind is survived by his wife, two sons, and four daughters—three of whom are married. The family is living in dire poverty, residing in a makeshift shelter after their home collapsed. The administration has promised swift support.
Calls for Action and Release of Remaining Fishermen
Local leaders, including village head Mrityunjay Bind, have called on the government to expedite relief measures and take immediate steps to secure the release of the three remaining fishermen from the village still held in Pakistan.
Earlier this year, on January 19, during a wedding event in Machhlishahr, locals informed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh about the plight of six fishermen from Jaunpur and two from neighbouring Bhadohi district imprisoned in Pakistan. Singh had assured the villagers that he would raise the issue with the Minister of External Affairs and push for their early release.
The tragic death of Ghurahu Bind has once again highlighted the uncertain fate of Indian fishermen caught in cross-border disputes and the need for diplomatic intervention in such humanitarian cases.
Sources By Agencies
