37 Nagai fishermen released by Sri Lanka

Nagapattinam: All the 37 fishermen of Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu released by the Sri Lankan authorities reached the private port at Karaikal in union territory of Puducherry on Saturday.

Official sources said that the Sri Lankan Naval authorities, who brought the Indian fishermen, handed them over to the Indian Coast guard (ICG) at the International maritime boundary line and they in turn brought the fisher-folks to the Karaikal port near Nagapattinam.

Later, Mr Udhal Singh, Commandent, ICG, Karaikal region, handed over the Indian fishermen to the officials of the Tamil Nadu Fisheries department Nagapattinam, the sources added.

Following this, all the fishermen were brought to Akkaraipettai fishermen hamlet, where their family members accorded them a touching welcome as tears of joy rolled down their cheeks.  

It might be recalled that the 37 fishermen of Akkaraipettai hamlet were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy about a month ago, on charges of crossing the International Maritime boundary line.

Thanks to the initiatives by a team of fishermen representatives of Ramanathapuram, who met Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena in Colombo on May 12, and sought his intervention for their release. Mr Sirisena had ordered their release on the same day.

However, despite the President's order, on the very next day the Point Pedro court in Jaffna extended the judicial custody of the 37 fishermen for the third consecutive term till May 27. It later ordered their release when produced before the court on Friday.

The five fishing boats, nevertheless, detained along with the 37 fishermen are yet to be released and they remain under the custody of the Sri Lankan authorities.