British Navy releases 32 Tamil Nadu fishermen

All of them were expected to reach Kanniyakumari back in a week’s time. 

The 32 fishermen from Iravinpudhur had gone for fishing on February 5 in two boats belonging to Judi Albert and Hussai. On March 2, when they were fishing near Diego Garcia, an island owned by the United Kingdom, they were arrested by the British Navy and were jailed at the island where they have a naval base. When the families of the arrested fishermen came to know about their detention, they were shocked. The fishermen’s kin demanded the state and Centre to rescue them and bring them back home safely. 

The British Navy imposed a fine of close to Rs 5 lakh and informed the families that if they fail to pay the amount, the fishermen would have to serve three months in the prison. However, the boat owner Judi Albert’s wife Suja arranged for the fine and sent the amount to the British Navy. 

After receiving the fine, the British Navy announced their release on Thursday and the fishermen were sent out of the prison on Friday afternoon. It would take at least nine days for the fishermen to return to Kanniyakumari because of the weather conditions in the sea at present. 

Meanwhile, family members of the 15 fishermen held by the Iranian Navy demanded their release. They said that the fishermen were arrested in October last and even though the release orders were issued on March 14, they were yet to be freed. 

The family members urged the Centre and state governments to instruct the Indian Embassy to act on the issue immediately and secure the early release of the fishermen.