By Faisal Aboobacker Ponnani Saudi Gazette QATIF - The Qatari Coast Guards have detained 26 Indian fishermen who were aboard seven Saudi fishing vessels after they entered the Qatari territorial water due to bad weather, said an Indian embassy official here Wednesday. The incident happened earlier this month. The fishermen are detained at the Qatari Coast Guard detention center in Ruweis and the fishing boats are moored at the Qatari port of Ruweis. Indian head of mission in Qatar Ambassador George Joseph and Saudi owners of the fishing boats are now negotiating the release of the fishing crew and the seven fishing boats, according to the Indian embassy official. “The fishermen are fine and being taken care of by our embassy in Qatar and the Indian community in Doha,” Balachandran, welfare officer at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, told the Saudi Gazette. He said a Doha-based Indian charity organization and Indian fishermen in Ruweis have been visiting the detained fishermen daily and providing them with food and clothing since their detention 25 days ago. “The Saudi owners of the seven fishing boats have also traveled to Ruweis and are now negotiating the release of their boats and the fishermen,” the welfare officer added. Port authorities in Qatar have imposed a fine of QR50,000 for the release of each of the seven boats. The owners are trying to negotiate the reduction of the fine, which is delaying the release of fishermen. Last year about 40 Indian fishermen from Dammam were detained by the Qatari Coast Guard after they inadvertently entered Qatari maritime territory and were detained for 65 days. The ship owners were heavily fined. __
