The Mannar court on Wednesday ordered the release the 41 fishermen of Rameswaram and Mandapam, who were arrested and taken away by the Sri Lankan navy in July and August. Ten mechanised boats of the fishermen were also taken away by the island nation navy. Subsequently, all the arrested fishermen were lodged in Vavunya prison. The 41 fishermen were produced on Wednesday before the Mannar court which ordered their release.
However, the court refused to give their boats back and posted the hearing in the case to December 11.
Earlier on September 23, the Puthalam court had ordered the release of 35 fishermen of Pamban. However, in this case also the four boats of the fishermen were not released. The hearing in this case has been adjourned to November 18.
The 35 fishermen of Pamban are now kept in Marikana De camp. Around 33 mechanised boats, which were taken away by the Lankan navy during the arrests of fishermen on earlier occasions, have been anchored in the sea off Kalpatti, Thalaimannar, Kankesanthurai and Paruthithurai.
Meanwhile, Jesu Raja a fishermen leader of Thangatchimadam, said that the North East monsoon would set in shortly in Sri Lanka. So there was a possibility of the anchored Indian boats getting damaged by gales. Hence the Central and State governments should take action to get back the boats from Lankan waters, he added.
The tough stance taken by the Lanka government was dealing a serious blow to the fishermen, he added.