Sri Lankan court releases 22 fishermen

A Sri Lankan court on Wednesday ordered the release of 22 Indian fishermen apprehended on charges of crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) while fishing. The released fishers would be handed over to the Indian Coast Guard and they are expected to return to their native places in a couple of days. Sources said, on June 21, as many as 22 fishermen from Pudukkottai and Ramanathapuram who were fishing off the coast near Mandapam in four mechanised boats were apprehended by the Sri Lankan navy on charges of crossing the IMBL. They were taken to Kankesanthurai harbour and later handed over to Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for onward legal proceedings. The fishermen were later produced before the court and the judge remanded them under judicial custody till July 5. Subsequently, they were lodged in the Jaffna prison.