Eighteen Indian fishermen, detained by the Sri Lankan Navy for purportedly trespassing into their territorial waters, returned to Chennai on Tuesday following their release by the Sri Lankan government.
The fishermen, residents of Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathapuram district, were freed on January 31 and subsequently entrusted to the care of the Indian High Commission.
They had been apprehended in two separate incidents last month for purportedly crossing the maritime boundary line. Initially, 10 Indian fishermen were detained for alleged poaching, followed by the arrest of 12 more individuals on similar charges a day later.