77 fishermen released from Lanka handed over to Indian Navy personnel

The 77 fishermen were from Nagapattinam, Karaikal, Ramanathapuram, Pudukkottai and Tirunelveli districts. They were sent to their respective places in vehicles arranged by the Fisheries department.

After a major diplomatic agreement had been made between India and Sri Lanka, the island nation had decided to release the 77 TN fishermen who were apprehended during several times for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line.

All the fishermen who were released by Sri Lanka by Thursday afternoon reached the Indian Territory at 3 pm. They were handed over to the Indian Navy.

Subsequently, they were taken in two boats owned by the Indian Navy which reached the Karaikal private port on Thursday night. Among the repatriated fishermen, 25 were from Nagapattinam and Karaikal. While as many as 52 fishermen are from Ramanathapuram, Pudukkottai and Tirunelveli districts.

The fishermen were received by Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar, Textiles and Handlooms Minister O S Manian and Nagapattinam Collector S Sureshkumar.