Indian Navy hands over 12 Lankan fishermen

Dharma Sri Abeyratne, in Kankesanthurai

KANKESANTHURAI: The Indian Navy handed over 12 fishermen and two boats together with their fishing equipment to the Sri Lanka Navy at Kankesanthurai yesterday. The fishermen were taken into custody by the Indian Coast Guard three months ago after straying into Indian waters.

The two boats had left from Trincomalee. Addressing the media at the Naval Base at Kankesanthurai, the fishermen said they were fishing in the deep sea as usual at their familiar spots when the Indian Navy took them into custody.

The Indian Navy had maintained that the Lankan fishermen had strayed into Indian waters.`

The fishermen said one of their boats which was put to sea from Trincomalee was floating due to engine failure in the deep sea after the boat had entered Indian waters. The six fishermen in the boat swam to the Indian coast and were surrounded by the Indian Coast Guards.

Thereafter they were taken into custody by the Indian Coast Guards.

The other boat was taken into custody along with the six fishermen in it.

They were in prison for three months before they were produced before Indian Courts and fined Rs. 50,000 each.