A magistrate court in Kayts off the Jaffna peninsula on Friday extended the remand of 38 Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody till December 18, officials at the Indian Consulate in Jaffna said.
The Sri Lankan Navy arrested the 38 fishermen — 14 in November and 24 a few months earlier — on the charge of engaging in illegal fishing.
The fishermen, currently in the Jaffna prison, have been seeking an early release and went on a three-day hunger strike from Tuesday. They called it off on Thursday.
At present, there are 38 Indian fishermen and 82 Indian trawlers in Sri Lankan custody.
Fishermen not to cross IMBL Special Correspondent writes from Pudukottai:
Fishermen of six districts, who met at Jagadapattinam near here on Thursday night, decided to avoid entering Sri Lankan waters beyond the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).
The fishermen from Ramanathapuram, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Karaikal attended the meeting.
N. Kuttiyandi, president of the Mechanised Boat owners’ Welfare Association, who presided, said the meeting also discussed issues, including the steps to be taken for the release of 38 fishermen detained by Sri Lanka.
Follow-up meeting
It urged the Central and State governments to take steps to retrieve the boats and nets seized by the Sri Lankan Navy. A follow-up meeting would be held at Nagapattinam on December 10 to work out a strategy for carrying out fishing without any problem.
