After being detained by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), a court in Sri Lanka ordered the release of 10 fishermen from Nagapattinam district in India on Monday. The fishermen are expected to be repatriated within the next 10 days.
The incident took place on August 3 when the group of 10 fishermen set out to sea from Nagapattinam Harbour. They were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy near Mullaitheevu on August 6. Subsequently, they were produced in court in Trincomalee and were kept in judicial custody until August 21.
Following Tamil Nadu's request for their release, the fishermen appeared in the Trincomalee court on Monday, where the judge ordered their release, according to sources.
A fisheries department official in Nagapattinam stated, "They will be handed over to the Indian Embassy in Colombo and flown to Chennai."
In the meantime, the fishermen have also appealed for the return of their seized boat from Sri Lanka. The fisherfolk panchayat in Akkaraipettai has requested the release of both the vessel and the fishermen.
