The much awaited release of 86 fishermen, languishing in Sri Lankan prisons after they were arrested by the Lankan Navy on charges of poaching, did not take place on Wednesday.
Anxious await
The local fishermen, who were anxiously looking for the release of the fishermen after the Tamil Nadu government had announced that they would be released on Wednesday, disappointed after television news channels flashed news of the extension of the remand of the arrested fishermen.
Judicial remand
Reports received here said 24 Rameswaram fishermen who were to be released along with 62 others, produced before the Mannar court and the Magistrate has extended their judicial remand till November 11.
There was a move to release the fishermen on Wednesday but what made the Lankan authorities to reverse the stand was not known immediately, the sources said.
Reports suggested that the Lankan authorities might release 86 fishermen along with 34 others arrested on Tuesday in couple of days but there was no clear indication to this effect till late on Wednesday evening, the sources said.
