Nine fishermen from Karaikal, who were recently arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for alleged maritime boundary violations, have been released from custody by a magistrate court in Sri Lanka. However, the boat operator has been sentenced to six months in prison.
On January 8, a mechanised fishing boat set out for fishing with 10 crew members from the Karaikal fishing harbour. The Sri Lankan Navy apprehended the boat on charge of trespassing into their waters.
Following the intervention of the Puducherry government, which reached out to the Union government for diplomatic efforts, nine of the arrested fishermen were released by the Kayts Magistrate Court in Sri Lanka on February 3. However, the boat operator, P. Anbazhagan,from Keezhakasakudi village, was sentenced to six months imprisonment.
The transport of the released fishermen were facilitated by the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka. They arrived in Chennai by flight from Colombo on Friday and were subsequently sent to Karaikal.
P. Govindasamy, Deputy Director of Fisheries, Karaikal, said that efforts are under way, in coordination with the Union and Puducherry governments, as well as the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka, to secure early release of the imprisoned boat operator through legal means.
