After the Sri Lankan authorities freed as many as 82 Tamil Nadu fishermen, arrested by the navy on the charge of poaching, the Tamil Nadu government has ordered the release of all 39 Sri Lankan fishermen, apprehended by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) since April and presently lodged in Puzhal central prison.

Following the government order, the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court in Ramanadhapuram on Friday set free 14 fishermen, apprehended by the ICG for fishing in Indian waters off Kanyakumari on May 20.

The court, however, detained their three vessels as the government has directed the authorities only to release and repatriate the fishermen. On receipt of the order, the prosecution filed a withdrawal petition before the court stating that it was not interested in proceeding with the case.

The Magistrate, N. Dharman, allowed the petition and discharged the fishermen from the offences. U. Arulanandham, president of the Alliance for the Release of Innocent Fishermen (ARIF), said the government had also ordered the release of 25 other fishermen arrested by the ICG, Chennai, and lodged in Puzhal central prison.

All the 39 fishermen were likely to be repatriated by the ICG on Monday, he said. Thanking the State government, he also urged the Centre to prevail upon Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka governments to release 57 Sri Lankan fishermen detained in prisons there. The government order, directing the release of 14 fishermen here, was issued on June 12, a day after the joint interrogation committee chaired by Tuticorin District Collector M. Ravi Kumar recommended their release.

The fishermen, hailing from Negombo, were charged under section 14 of Foreigners Act, 3(a) read with 6(a) of Passport rules, 1950 (entry into India) and 3/10, 7/14 and 15(c) of Marine Zone of India Act, 1981.

Mr Arulanandham and other fishermen leaders in Rameswaram said the State government could have also released their eight boats. “The government could have released the boats and put pressure on the Sri Lankan authorities to reciprocate the gesture,” they said. – The Hindu