Sri Lankan Navy takes 22 fishermen into custody

RAMANATHAPURAM: Tense situation prevailed in Rameswaram Island when 22 fishermen were reportedly taken into custody by Sri Lankan navy personnel when they were fishing near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) along with five mechanised boats on Sunday.Fisheries department source said, around 622 mechanised boats had ventured into sea for fishing on Saturday and they were expected to return the next day.Meanwhile, five boats failed to return to the shore.  Therefore, fear gripped the minds of fisherfolk and the family members of missing fishermen. The abducted fishermen include Kliston, Jovan, Gildus, Chellaiah, Thomas, Wetson, Murugesan, Ramesh, Sahayam, Millar and John Bose  of  Thankatchimadam and Rameswaram. Police said according to information they received, the fishermen were produced before a court in Thalaimannar.Three FishermenRepatriatedMeanwhile, three fishermen of Jegathapattinam who were detained by Sri Lankan navy, repatriated from Sri Lanka on Sunday.Sources in Ramanathapuram said that three fishermen Arockiam, Muthumani and Sekar of Jegathapattinam had set out to sea for fishing ten days back and they were detained by Lankan navy on the charge of trespassing IMBL.The Sri Lankan government issued an order to release the three fishermen recently. So, they were taken to IMBL by Lankan navy and handed them over to Indian Coast Guard (IGC) personnel. Thilomin, Inspector of Fisheries-Pudukottai district and Gopinath, Inspector of fisheries- Mandapam, received them at ICG base-Mandapam. They were sent back to Jegathapattinam after an inquiry.