NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, NOV 13
Four days after a court order, a total of 42 fishermen hailing from Tamil Nadu were released from the prisons in Sri Lanka and are expected to reach home in about four days, said fishermen association leader P Jesu Raja on November 13.
On November 9, a court in Sri Lanka ordered the release of 42 fishermen. Raja said the next court hearing was expected on November 15 and he hoped the remaining 24 fishermen would also get relief.
However, Raja said the court had not ordered the release of their boats.
In three different incidents in October, the Sri Lankan Navy had nabbed 64 fishermen and impounded 10 mechanised boats on charges of poaching. The incident had drawn protest from fishermen associations, who had undertaken an indefinite strike from October 14. The strike was withdrawn within a week following assurances of intervention from the central and state governments.
To ensure their release, a delegation of fishermen leaders, including H Raja led by senior DMK leader and MP TR Baalu had then gone to New Delhi and the Union Minister of External Affairs had assured them of steps to ensure the release of the detained fishermen.
Meanwhile, fishermen from Rameswaram, Thangachimadam, Mandapam and Dhanushkodi ventured into the sea for fishing on Monday, the first day after Deepavali.
