CHENNAI: As many as seven fishermen, who were released from Sri Lankan custody, reached Chennai airport on Thursday.
The Sri Lankan Navy arrested the seven fishermen, who hailed from Rameswaram and surrounding areas, for fishing in Sri Lankan waters. They were released by Sri Lanka on August 29 after intervention by the central and state governments and reached the Chennai airport on Thursday.
The Sri Lankan Navy arrested the fishermen on July 23. They were produced before a Sri Lankan court and imprisoned.
Earlier, the Sri Lankan Navy apprehended a boat with eight crew members that ventured into the sea for fishing off the coast of Rameswaram, as per the Rameswaram Assistant Director of Fisheries. The boat was part of a group of 430 total mechanised boats from Rameswaram, that ventured into the sea for fishing purposes.
C R Senthilvel, Tamil Nadu Secretary of AITUC Fishing Workers’ Association, also confirmed that the Sri Lankan Navy arrested eight fishermen off the coast of Tamil Nadu.
“Tamil Nadu fishermen are being caught by the Sri Lankan Navy throughout the year. There have been a lot of boat attacks going on. Two fishermen have been murdered. More than 350 fishermen have been arrested this year alone. Hence, there is a sense of hopelessness among the fishermen”, said Senthilvel.
On August 10, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar urging action to secure the release and repatriation of another group of fishermen who were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy. (ANI)