Tamil Nadu Fishermen Detained By Sri Lanka Navy In December Released, India Arranging 'Early Return'

The Sri Lankan Navy had detained the Tamil fishermen last month and seized their boats, claiming that they crossed the international maritime borders.

13 fishermen detained by Sri Lankan Navy. (Image: Twitter/India in Sri Lanka)

New Delhi: The High Commision of India in Sri Lanka Wednesday said the 13 Indian fishermen detained by the Lankan Navy in December would be released soon.

The Sri Lankan Navy detained the Tamil fishermen on December 19 and seized their boats, claiming that they had crossed the international maritime borders.

Taking to Twitter, the High Commission also said that they are taking steps to send the fishermen back to Tamil Nadu as early as possible. 

Happy to learn from our lawyer in Mannar that 13 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu are being released. Details follow.

— India in Sri Lanka (@IndiainSL) January 5, 2022

    

The Condulate General in Jaffna later tweeted that 12 fishermen have been released. 

12 Indian fishermen detained in Mannar on 19th December, 2021, have been released by Mannar court today. @CGJaffna provided them with the legal assistance by representing their cases in the court & facilitated their early release. pic.twitter.com/CmukBctMfH

— India in Jaffna (@CGJaffna) January 5, 2022

Earlier, officials from the Indian Consulate in Jaffna had met the fishermen in December after they were detained by the Lankan Navy, and offered necessary support to them. The officials provided basic necessities like clothes, snacks, and they have reportedly asked them to follow all Covid protocols. The detainees were also facilitated to speak to their relatives on calls, India Today reported.

In all, the Lankan Navy had detained 55 fishermen for allegedly crossing the international maritime and 10 boats have been seized by them. After the fisherfolk from Rameshwaram and surrounding regions got to know about the men going missing, they went on a hunger strike demanding that the Centre bring them back.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin earlier wrote to the Ministry of External Affairs mentioning that 55 fishermen and 73 fishing boats are in the custody of Sri Lanka.