Chennai/New Delhi: Sri Lanka on Friday released 34 of the 53 Indian fishermen allegedly arrested by its Navy.
They have been handed over to the Indian High Commission and are expected to reach Indian shores in a day or two.
The latest development in this regard comes a day after India summoned Sri Lanka`s Deputy High Commissioner and lodged strong protest over the arrests. They had asked Sri Lanka that the fishermen should be released at the earliest.
Sri Lanka said the fishermen were arrested for allegedly fishing in their waters.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had earlier written a letter to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh asking him to summon Sri Lanka`s envoy to India to seek an explanation, and if necessary, issue a demarche seeking the immediate release of the captive fishermen.
"Let Sri Lanka not be emboldened by your silence," she wrote to the Prime Minister.
New Delhi did summon Sri Lanka`s Deputy High Commissioner and told him to ensure that his government treat the arrested men ``in a humane manner``.
MEA official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said that Sri Lankan authorities arrested 19 fishermen on Wednesday and another 34 on Thursday for allegedly fishing in Sri Lanka`s waters.
ANI
