Seventy-seven fishermen of Tamil Nadu, who were released by Sri Lanka, landed here on Thursday.
Officials led by S. Palanisamy, Nagapattinam District Collector, received them at the port here. The fishermen were later sent to their respective districts and villages.
The fishermen arrived here after being handed over to the Indian Coast Guard by the Sri Lankan Navy. The fishermen arrived here by a Coast Guard ship.
Of them, 22 fishermen belonged to Nagapattinam district, seven to Pudukottai, and 48 to Ramanathapuram district and they had been detained by the Sri Lankan Navy between May 31 and July 15 this year, Mr. Palanisamy said. They had been detained on the charge of poaching in Sri Lankan waters.
Beela Rajesh, Commissioner of Fisheries; S.N.M. Patnaik, Karaikal Station Commandant, Indian Coast Guard; and Subburaj, Joint Director of Fisheries, Nagapattinam; were present.
