Sri Lanka releases 34 Indian fishermen

Last Updated: Friday, March 15, 2013, 18:52

A- A A+

Tags: Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, Fishermen, India,

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

For Zee News’s Updates, follow us on Twitter , Facebook, Google+, Pinterest

First Published: Friday, March 15, 2013, 18:15

Post your Comments

Name:
Place :
Email :
Comments :

Comments

Chandra Shekhar A K - Chennai
Sri Lanka has been guilty of persecution of its citizens of Indian origin for long, of which the deaths of such unarmed citizens in the last days of their civil war are but cruel instances of genocide. India`s mediation on the basis of regional autonomy for NE provinces agreed to by Sri Lankan govt during the civil war are now being reneged by their govt. However if Indian fishermen are fishing in Sri Lankan waters and/or devastating the common waters in the Palk Straits through deep sea trawling, India should agree with Sri Lanka for joint patrolling to prevent both provided Sri Lanka agrees not to shoot or arrest Indian fishermen in future. Turning a blind eye to the problem as Indian govt has been doing till now is no solution to the problem in common waters faced by Indian fishermen or claimed by Sri Lankan govt.