#Chennai: Sri Lankan Navy had released 66 Tamil Nadu fishermen who were arrested on the charges of illegal fishing in Lankan waters after crossing the International Maritime Boundaries Line (IMBL).
The step had come in the wake of repatriated after Tamil Nadu government ordered to release the Lankan fishermen on Monday. As a reciprocal gesture, Lankan Navy had ordered release of Tamil fishermen.
The fishermen being repatriated included 26 from Pudukottai district, 28 from Nagapattinam and 12 from Rameswaram. Their trawlers, were, however detained by the Lankan authorities.
The Point Pedro court while ordering the release of 28 Tamil Nadu fishermen refused to release 15 fishermen from Karaikal and extended their judicial remand till January 5.
U Arulanandham, President of the Alliance for the Release of Innocent Fishermen (ARIF) said it was intriguing as why the Lankan government had refused to release them.
He appealed to the authorities to order their release ahead of Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Bureau Report
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