Lankan court releases 9 Nagai fishermen

TIRUCHY: Nine fishermen from Nagapattinam, who were arrested by Sri Lankan Navy for reportedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), were ordered to be released on Friday on condition that they would not repeat the offence. Steps are being taken for their repatriation to India.

Sources said that on August 22, nine fishermen from Nagapattinam were arrested for crossing the IMBL even as the fishermen claimed that they were sailing only in Indian waters. The Sri Lankan Navy, which arrested the fishermen, confiscated their catch and their boat along with fishing gear.

The island nation’s navy officials cited poaching in their territorial waters for the arrest of the Nagapattinam fishermen. The arrested fishermen along with trawler were taken to Trincomalee harbour and were handed over to the Fisheries Department officials there for onward legal action.

Meanwhile, the arrest of the fishermen brought shock waves among their colleagues in Nagapattinam and residents of coastal areas in the district. Soon after the arrest, Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote a letter to the Union Minister for Foreign Affairs S Jaishankar to immediately initiate diplomatic talks and take steps for the release and repatriation of the arrested fishermen. Several political parties from Tamil Nadu, including PMK, had raised concerns and appealed to the Centre to take steps for the release of the Nagapattinam fishermen.

Meanwhile, when the case of the fishermen came up for hearing, the Trincomalee court ordered the release of all the nine men. Sources said that the released fishermen were expected to reach home in a couple of days after the completion of formalities.