27 fishermen return after release from Lankan prisons

The fishermen were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy in the last two months, on charges of violating the International Maritime Boundary Line rules and for poaching on the Lankan marine resources.

Among the total of 27 fishermen, 19 were from Rameswaram while eight hail from Jagathapattinam of Pudukkottai district. Based on the bilateral agreements between the Sri Lanka and India, the Sri Lankan Judicial authorities released the 19 Rameswaram fishers last Friday. The remaining eight were released on Wednesday. 

All of them arrived in an Indian Coast Guard vessel at the Karaikal private port at around 3.30pm on Wednesday. Commanding Officer, ICGS Karaikal, Joint Director of Fisheries, Nagapattinam and Deputy Director of Fisheries, Nagapattinam, Karaikal, Tiruchy and Rameswaram received them.