Body of Fisherman Ghurahu Bind Who Died in Pakistani Jail to Arrive in Jaunpur on Friday

The body of Ghurahu Bind, a fisherman from Uttar Pradesh, is expected to reach his village on Friday. Bind died under unclear circumstances in a Pakistani jail. District Magistrate Dinesh Chandra confirmed the news. Bind, aged 49, was from Basiraha village in Jaunpur's Machhlishahr tehsil. He was arrested by the Pakistan Coast Guard in 2020 for allegedly crossing into their waters while fishing near Gujarat's Okha coast.

Bind's family, living in poverty after their house collapsed, will receive state welfare benefits. These include the Chief Minister Housing Scheme and widow pension. The district magistrate has instructed the sub-divisional magistrate of Machhlishahr to ensure proper arrangements for Bind's last rites. The family has been surveyed by government officials to determine their eligibility for these benefits.

Family Demands Investigation

The family suspects that Bind may have taken his own life due to alleged torture in the Pakistani jail. They have requested a post-mortem examination in India to ascertain the true cause of death. A WhatsApp message circulating in the village claimed that Bind died about 15 days ago. The family has urged the government to conduct a formal investigation into his death.

Bind leaves behind his wife, two sons, and four daughters, three of whom are married. The family currently resides in a makeshift hut due to their dire financial situation. Locals, including village head Mrityunjay Bind, have called on the government to expedite assistance and work towards freeing the three fishermen still imprisoned.

Efforts for Fishermen's Release

During a wedding event in Machhlishahr on January 19, locals informed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh about the imprisonment of six fishermen from Jaunpur and two from Bhadohi district in Pakistan. Singh assured them he would discuss the matter with the external affairs minister and make efforts to secure their release.

The Department of Fisheries officially informed Bind's family of his death on Tuesday. This followed an alert from the Indian embassy and Directorate of Fisheries in Lucknow. Fisheries Inspector Sambhashi Tripathi visited Bind's family to convey the tragic news personally.

Bind was imprisoned alongside three other fishermen from his village who remain jailed even after five years. Chandra confirmed that Bind's body has been received at the Wagah border and is being transported to Jaunpur.