On Tuesday, a Sri Lankan court released six Indian fishermen who had been arrested on January 22 for alleged poaching in the territorial waters of the island nation. The released fishermen, identified as Isaac (47), Sisarian (43), Samathana Babu (38), Easter Arockiadas (34), Nishanthan (34), and Murugesan, were handed over to the Indian Consulate General Office in Jaffna.
The fishermen, who set sail from the Rameswaram fishing jetty on two boats, were detained by the Sri Lankan navy. They faced charges of trespassing, poaching, and using banned fishing nets in Sri Lankan waters. Initially remanded in judicial custody until February 6 by the Sri Lankan court at Oorkavalthurai, the judge ordered their release on Tuesday with the condition that they must refrain from entering Sri Lankan waters, under the threat of imprisonment. Additionally, the judge ordered the nationalization of their fishing crafts and fishing gear.
In response to the arrests, Rameswaram fishermen initiated a strike on Monday, protesting the detention of 23 fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy on February 3. The fishermen urged the Tamil Nadu government and the Central government to secure the release of the detained fishermen and the approximately 150 boats currently held in Sri Lankan custody. Source: TNN
