Five Sri Lankan fishing boats, which had been apprehended by Indian Coast Guard personnel last year on allegedly for illegal fishing in Indian waters, were released from Tuticorin on Saturday based on repatriation order.
With the aid of Coastal Security Group police, the detained boats were handed over to Coast Guard personnel, Tuticorin to carry out other formalities. Commandant A. Athinarayanan, Commanding Officer, ICG, Tuticorin, told The Hindu that these boats with a crew of eleven Sri Lankan fishermen would be escorted upto Indian Maritime Boundary Line and handed over to the Sri Lankan Navy personnel.
According to Inspector of Tuticorin Thermal Nagar Police, L. Raju, three boats were detained on May 20th in 2014 and other two boats on September 30th last year. Along with these boats, a crew of 16 Sri Lankan fishermen was also detained. But, the crew men were freed on June 14 and on December 22last year, he said.
