The Pakistan Marine Security Agency has apprehended as many as 24 Indian fishermen from from Etcherla Mandal, a coastal village, of Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh, off the Gujarat coast.

Of the 24, eight fishermen belong to Andhra Pradesh.

As per reports, the fishermen had accidentally entered into Pakistan territorial waters near Gujarat.

To this end, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has taken up this matter with the officials of AP Bhavan in New Delhi and has asked them to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and ensure the release of the fishermen.

Every year, fishermen from coastal Andhra go to Gujarat in September and return in March.

(With IANS inputs)