Six more Tamil Nadu fishermen jailed in Iran get release orders

The fishermen, from Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts were working for a private company in Dubai. They were arrested by Iran Navy on October 24, and were kept at Kish Island, belonging to Iran. 

Out of the 15, two fell ill and after medication one of them recovered. However, Craslin, one of the fishermen from Thoothukudi, was immediately released and sent to Thoothukudi as his health condition worsened. 

Though their Dubai employer paid the bail amount, the fishermen faced problems in their release and they did not wish to go back to Dubai for work. Their employer demanded Rs 70 lakh to free them and permit their return to India. 

In the meantime, the kin of the fishermen back in Tamil Nadu and the fishermen leaders urged the intervention of the Indian government, stating they do not have the money required to pay the employer. Furthermore, visa for seven of them had expired and hence they were facing arrest if they returned to Dubai. The Indian government acted upon the demand and obtained the release orders for eight of the arrested men. The release orders of six more fishermen Pelson and Packiam, from Tirunelveli district, Ajay Stephen, Sahaya Charles, Aruldoss and Viniston, from Kanniyakumari district, were obtained on Monday. Justin Antony, founding president, International Fishermen Development Trust (INFIDET), said, “The Indian government took all possible steps to secure the release of the fishermen. The six men are expected to reach Chennai in a couple of days.”