Six fishermen from the State, whose boats had drifted into Sri Lankan waters following a snag a fortnight ago, returned home on New Year’s Eve, here at the Karaikal port.
In a mid-morning swap along the IMBL, 12 Sri Lankan fishermen and their two boats were handed over by the Indian Coast Guard to the Sri Lankan Navy.
The Sri Lankan fishermen had similarly strayed into the Indian waters, due to a technical snag and rough weather.
The six fishermen from the State included three each from Nagapattinam and Thanjavur.
Govindaraj, Jagadish, a father-son duo from Tharangambadi, and Kaliaperumal from Sembanarkoil, had set out on December 11 from Kodiakkarai in Vedaranyam.
Rescued by Sri Lankan fishermen
They were rescued by Sri Lankan fishermen off Jaffna coast and were handed over to the authorities.
Three other fishermen Velu, Muthu and Selvan, from Pudupattinam hamlet in Thanjavur reportedly drifted off across the IMBL.
The six men and their two boats were released last Friday.
The men were handed over by the Sri Lankan Navy to the Coast Guard Ship Rajvir at the IMBL.
Speaking to The Hindu , Commandant Udhal Singh, Indian Coast Guard Station, Karaikal said the men were handed over on Tuesday morning to the ICGS Rajvir that was deployed from Kakinada.
The men were received by Commandant Singh and handed over to the Fisheries department.
