Chennai: Nine fishermen from Mandapam in Ramanathapuram district, who were released from a Sri Lankan jail a week back, landed in Chennai on the day Chief Minister M K Stalin took part in a conference of fishermen in Ramanathapuram and assured to address their issues.
The fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on July 25 while they were fishing in the Palk Straits between the Katchatheevu and Nedutheevu in two boats. Their boats and catch were also seized by the naval personnel who accused them of trespassing into Lankan waters by crossing the border.
Though the arrested fishermen were sent to jail by a Sri Lankan court, Chief Minister M K Stalin had written to the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and sought their release through diplomatic channels.
The Indian embassy officials took up the matter with the Sri Lankan officials, secured their release and kept them under their care, besides arranging for their travel back home. They were provided with travel documents and flight tickets.
At the Chennai airport they were received by officials of the fisheries department, who put them on special vehicles to Ramanathapuram.
Later in the day, the Katchatheevu issue echoed in the airport when Union Minister of State L Murugan addressed media persons on his arrival in Chennai from Delhi. He accused the Chief Minister of not caring about the welfare and concerns of the fishermen community.
Katchatheevu was handed over to Sri Lanka on a platter by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi when M Karunanidhi was the Chief Minister of the State, Murugan said.
