First batch of fishermen returns with six seized boats

ICG sources said that though they had planned to retrieve seven boats, a boat was completely damaged and so they could manage to bring back only six boats. The fishermen would reach the coast with their boats in the night, said sources. 

More than 500 fishermen in 170 boats were arrested by Sri Lankan Navy since 2015, but at regular intervals the fishermen alone were released. Their boats were held back by the Sri Lankan government. As the boats were constantly at sea, some of them were completely damaged. Then the fishermen demanded the government to release the boats immediately. 

Recently, a team of officials and fishermen had gone to inspect the 42 boats that were seized in 2015 and out of them nine boats were damaged irreparably. 

So, to bring back the released boats, a batch of fishermen from Rameswaram had gone to Sri Lanka last week. Nearly, 43 fishermen had gone there to retrieve seven boats in the first batch. In the meantime, second batch of fishermen left for Sri Lanka on Saturday morning to retrieve another seven boats. 

Out of the seven boats, five belonged to Pudukkottai fishermen and remaining two belonged to Rameswaram fishermen. About 51 fishermen in nine boats have gone to the island nation.  

Out of them, 22 are from Pudukkottai who had gone in five boats. The remaining 29 fishermen from Rameswaram had gone in four boats to retrieve two boats from their region. The fishermen were guarded by Indian Coast Guard personnel till the International Maritime Border Line (IMBL) and then were handed over to the Sri Lankan Navy.