Ninety-six fishermen from Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam, who were allegedly detained by the British Navy on December 11 near Diego Garcia, an island under the control of the British government, reached the Kochi fishing harbour on Saturday morning, say NGOs.
Fr. Churchil, general secretary, South Asian Fishermen Federation (SAFF), said the fishermen had escaped through the South African international waters, instead of their regular route, to avoid further confrontation.
The fishermen, along with their seven boats, were rounded up by the British Navy on December 11 at gunpoint and taken to Diego Garcia. Soon after they reached the island, all their documents were confiscated by the British Navy.
The fishermen managed to escape when the British Navy personnel left the island for a while because of strong winds, said P. Justin Antony, president, Tamil Nadu Fishermen Development Trust.
“We got information that the 96 fishermen and the seven boats reached Kochi this morning. It was conveyed to us by Bibin, one of the detained fishermen from Thoothoor,” Mr. Antony said in an e-mail confirmation.
The fishermen are now heading for their native coastal village of Thoothur in Kanyakumari district, Fr. Churchil said.
He said a batch of 14 fishermen arrested by the British Navy near the same island on December 5 was released.