Chennai: Eight fishermen from Rameswaram, who were released from a prison in Sri Lanka, arrived in Chennai by flight from Colombo on Thursday night. They were received at the airport by officials of the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department, before being sent to Rameswaram.
Nine fishermen from Rameswaram had ventured into the sea in a mechanised fishing boat on October 3. While fishing near Neduntheevu (Delft Island) around midnight, a Lankan navy patrol vessel intercepted their boat. The Lankan Navy accused them of crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line and fishing in Lankan waters. All nine fishermen were arrested while their fishing boat, nets and catch were seized.
They were subsequently taken to Sri Lanka and produced before a court before being remanded in custody at the Jaffna prison.
However, the fisherman who had been operating the boat was reportedly a repeat offender. As he had been arrested for a second time, the Sri Lankan court sentenced him to three months in prison. He continues to remain in the Jaffna prison as a convicted prisoner.
Following the arrests, the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government held discussions with the Sri Lankan authorities seeking the release of the fishermen.
The Sri Lankan court released the other eight fishermen on October 30. They were subsequently handed over to officials of the Indian High Commission there.
The Indian diplomatic officials accommodated the fishermen at a camp and facilitated their return to India. Emergency certificates were issued to the eight fishermen as they did not have the necessary travel documents. The boat operator, meanwhile, will remain in the Jaffna prison until completion of his three-month sentence, officials said.
They were subsequently taken to Sri Lanka and produced before a court before being remanded in custody at the Jaffna prison.
However, the fisherman who had been operating the boat was reportedly a repeat offender. As he had been arrested for a second time, the Sri Lankan court sentenced him to three months in prison. He continues to remain in the Jaffna prison as a convicted prisoner.
Following the arrests, the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government held discussions with the Sri Lankan authorities seeking the release of the fishermen.
The Sri Lankan court released the other eight fishermen on October 30. They were subsequently handed over to officials of the Indian High Commission there.
The Indian diplomatic officials accommodated the fishermen at a camp and facilitated their return to India. Emergency certificates were issued to the eight fishermen as they did not have the necessary travel documents. The boat operator, meanwhile, will remain in the Jaffna prison until completion of his three-month sentence, officials said.
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