10 Tamil fishermen released from Sri Lanka
10 July 2012 1:23 AM GMT
Ten Tamil fishermen, who were taken into custody by the Sri Lankan Navy on 1 July, were released on 9 July following an order issued by a Lankan court.
On Monday morning, Assistant Director of Fisheries, A Karthikeyan, told media at Rameswaram that the fishermen and the boats would be handed over to the Indian Coast Guard at the International Maritime boundary line.
Five fishermen, who had set sail from Rameswaram on 30 June, strayed into Sri Lankan waters in the rough weather. Their boat broke down in the middle of the ocean. A Sri Lankan Navy patrol took the men into custody, and lodged them in prison.
Meanwhile, a rescue team of five more fishermen had set out in search of their missing colleagues, and were also taken into custody by the Lankan Navy.
The arrested fishermen were remanded in the Jaffna court, which ordered that they be jailed in the Anuradhapura prison till 12 July.
However, the Indian Embassy filed an appeal at the Jaffna court, urging the release of the captured fishermen. The court then ordered the release of the men. Karthikeyan told the press that Mannar Judicial Magistrate Anthony Pillai Jutesen had warned the fishermen to be careful in future, and make sure not to violate the maritime boundary.
On Monday morning, Assistant Director of Fisheries, A Karthikeyan, told media at Rameswaram that the fishermen and the boats would be handed over to the Indian Coast Guard at the International Maritime boundary line.
Five fishermen, who had set sail from Rameswaram on 30 June, strayed into Sri Lankan waters in the rough weather. Their boat broke down in the middle of the ocean. A Sri Lankan Navy patrol took the men into custody, and lodged them in prison.
Meanwhile, a rescue team of five more fishermen had set out in search of their missing colleagues, and were also taken into custody by the Lankan Navy.
The arrested fishermen were remanded in the Jaffna court, which ordered that they be jailed in the Anuradhapura prison till 12 July.
However, the Indian Embassy filed an appeal at the Jaffna court, urging the release of the captured fishermen. The court then ordered the release of the men. Karthikeyan told the press that Mannar Judicial Magistrate Anthony Pillai Jutesen had warned the fishermen to be careful in future, and make sure not to violate the maritime boundary.
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