A Sri Lankan court on Friday released 19 fishermen, five from Jegathapattinam in Pudukottai and 18 from Karaikal, on condition that they should not fish in Lankan waters again. However, the court imprisoned three others, who were boat drivers, for six months. Meanwhile, Rameswaram fishermen announced they would boycott the Lok Sabha elections protesting the repeated arrests by Lankan navy.
Sri Lankan navy apprehended two fishing trawlers and seven fishermen from Jegathapattinam and one fishing trawler and 15 fishermen from Karaikal on Mar 10 on charges of poaching in the territorial waters of Sri Lanka. They were produced before a court and lodged in Jaffna prison.On Friday, the Oorkavalthurai court released 19 fishermen warning that they would be jailed for longer term if they were ever found fishing in Sri Lankan waters while sending all three boat drivers to six months prison term. The magistrate also ordered the owners of three boats to appear before the Oorkavalthurai court on June 7.
The released fishermen were handed over to the Indian Consulate at Jaffna.
Meanwhile, Rameswaram fishermen convened a meeting to discuss the future course of action after five boats and 32 fishermen were detained by the Sri Lankan navy on Mar 20. They have resorted to boycot the Lok Sabha elections and hand over their voter identity and Aadhaar cards to Rameswaram tahsildar on Apr 8. They also announced an indefinite strike from Friday demanding the immediate release of all the fishermen and drivers.