Rameswaram: The 23 Indian fishermen who
were arrested in Sri Lanka last week, were released from
judicial custody on Wednesday and are expected to return home
tomorrow, officials said.
The detained fishermen, along with their five boats that
were seized, would be handed over by the Lankan Navy to Indian
Coastguard tomorrow at the International Maritime Boundary
Line (IMBL), Coast Guard Assistant Commander Safaya said.
The fishermen are expected to reach Indian shores by
tomorrow evening.
The release of the fishermen was ordered today afternoon
by Mannar district court magistrate Karuppiah Jeevarani,
Intelligence Bureau officials said.
The fishermen, on board five trawlers, were held last week
off the north east coat of Mannar by the Lankan Navy and then
handed over to the Talaimannar police.
Following the arrest, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister
Jayalalithaa had sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's
intervention to secure their release.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, June 29, 2011, 20:53