A local Sri Lankan court has ordered the release of the 22 Indian fishermen who were taken into custody by the Lankan Navy earlier in the day. The fishermen from Jagadapattinam and other coastal villages in Pudukottai district had been detained early morning by Lankan Naval personnel when fishing near Katchatheevu in the Palk straits. Inspector of Fisheries,Ramamurthy,had said they had informed the Indian Coast Guard (CG) about the detention. The Sri Lankan naval men had informed the CG that the fishermen would be handed over to them at the International Maritime Boundary line,he said. But they asked them not to come today as the sea was rough on their side,he said. Last month,five fishermen were arrested by the Lankan navy on drug smuggling charges and their judicial remand has been extended to January 2. The families of the arrested fishermen had observed a fast on December 17,demanding that steps be taken for their immediate release. Local fishermen had also refused to put to sea till a solution was found. Meanwhile,search has been launched to trace three fishermen missing for the last four days,officials said. Katchatheevu is an islet ceded to Sri Lanka by India in 1974. Local fishermen have for long been demanding restoration of traditional fishing rights near Katchatheevu and protection to them from attacks allegedly by Lankan navy.
