15 SL fishermen held off Kumari coast, freed after corona check

They were held for trespassing the Indian waters after crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), sources said.

The Indian Coast Guard Ship ‘Abhiraj’, during offshore patrolling. spotted the three suspicious boats about 70 nautical miles off Kanniyakumari east coast.

The fishing boats bore registration numbers – (IMKLAO201CNW), (IMUL A0226MTR) and (IMULA0480GLE). After being intercepted the Lankan fishermen on board at mid sea, they were screened by a medical team to check whether they had symptoms of coronavirus.

More importantly, those held were inquired and other formal procedures carried out on board. Further, the sources said all those apprehended were freed and sent back owing Covid-19 scare. Moreover, the sources said, earlier the port authorities and officials from Coast Guard, Coastal Security Group and local police waited at Thoothukudi Zone ‘B’ Port after being informed that those apprehended Lankan fishermen would be brought at the Port area around 12.30 pm. But later, the officials of these departments were informed that the detained Lankan fishermen would not be brought to the Zone ‘B’ Port. The officials then left the port, the sources added.