Sri Lankan court orders release of 34 TN fishermen
16 March 2013 1:42 AM GMT
A day after India lodged a strong protest against detention of its fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy, a court in the island nation on Friday ordered the release of 34 fishermen, officials of a fishermen association here said.
Quoting information received by them, innocent Fishermen Association president Arulanandam said the 34 fishermen, captured on Friday near islet of Delft in the northern Jaffna district, were produced before a court in Oorkavalturai which ordered their release. He said the fishermen would return home either Friday night or today.
The fishermen from Thangachimadam here, part of a group which had ventured into the sea, were arrested on the charge of trespassing and poaching in Lankan waters, the second batch to be detained after 19 others were taken into custody on 14 March.
The 19 fishermen were on Friday remanded to judicial custody till 28 March by a court in Thalaimannar.
Under attack from political parties including DMK and AIADMK, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid told Rajya Sabha yesterday that India summoned Lankan Deputy High Commissioner and lodged a strong protest over such incidents and pressed for restraint besides release of all those held.
The arrest of the 53 fishermen has triggered tension in Rameswaram region besides prompting the Mechanised Boat Fishermen's Association to announce indefinite fishing boycott from on Friday demanding the release of their colleagues.
Quoting information received by them, innocent Fishermen Association president Arulanandam said the 34 fishermen, captured on Friday near islet of Delft in the northern Jaffna district, were produced before a court in Oorkavalturai which ordered their release. He said the fishermen would return home either Friday night or today.
The fishermen from Thangachimadam here, part of a group which had ventured into the sea, were arrested on the charge of trespassing and poaching in Lankan waters, the second batch to be detained after 19 others were taken into custody on 14 March.
The 19 fishermen were on Friday remanded to judicial custody till 28 March by a court in Thalaimannar.
Under attack from political parties including DMK and AIADMK, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid told Rajya Sabha yesterday that India summoned Lankan Deputy High Commissioner and lodged a strong protest over such incidents and pressed for restraint besides release of all those held.
The arrest of the 53 fishermen has triggered tension in Rameswaram region besides prompting the Mechanised Boat Fishermen's Association to announce indefinite fishing boycott from on Friday demanding the release of their colleagues.
Next Story
