The Jaffna High Court on Monday refused to grant bail to five Indian fishermen, who were detained by the Lankan Navy last year, and incarcerated them again in Jaffna prison.
According to sources, five fishermen — Emerson, Wilson, Augustus, John Pritto and Prasath of Thankatchimadam — had ventured into sea for fishing in a mechanised boat on November 28 and they were detained by the Lankan Navy in mid-sea.
The Lankan police had taken them to Kankesanthurai and registered a drug smuggling case against them. They were lodged in prison and the case was being tried at Mallagam Court. When thier bail petition came up for hearing at the Jaffna High Court on Monday, the judge refused to grant bail to them.