49 Indian fishermen detained in Iran return home

Forty-nine Indian fishermen, who were detained three months ago in Iran, have been freed and returned to India today, External Affairs Ministry said.
"On 1 December 2015, 49 Indian fishermen, who are employees of M/s. Al ShamsiAn Ajman (UAE based company) were detained while they were unknowingly fishing between UAE and Iranian water in the Kish island....These 49 fishermen have been released by the Iranian authorities," MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.
They left Iran yesterday for Chennai via Dubai and have arrived in India this morning, he said.
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As many as 44 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu arrested by Iranian authorities last year returned home today following "sustained efforts" taken by the state government, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said.

Announcing a financial assistance of Rs five lakh to each of them, she said the 44 fishermen, employed in fishing firms in UAE, had "lost their way" and crossed over to Iran in December 2015, resulting in their arrest.

Jayalalithaa in a statement here said she had directed the state government authorities to contact the Ministry of External Affairs officials in UAE and Iran for the release of the fishermen, who hailed from Ramanathapuram, Tuticorin and Kanyakumari districts.
"Following the sustained efforts taken by state government, the 44 fishermen were released and returned home (by flight) today. They were sent to their respective destinations on state government's expense," she said.

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Meanwhile 11 of the 44 fishermen who returned here to an emotional welcome, said they were asked to pay a heavy fine, amounting to lakhs of Rupees, but were released later through effective intervention of various officials concerned.
Apart from these 11 fishermen, 31 are from Kanyakumari, two from Tuticorin and five from Gujarat.
Arumugam, Puroshottam and Mani said all of them were arrested and detained in their boatoff Kis island in Iran and were periodically supplied food from their employer.
They had spent most of the time in their boats and were without even change of clothes. Once a week they were allowed into the island to buy essential items, the fishermen said.

They said Iranian police did not give them any trouble or ill treat them.
Just as they were losing hope of getting release, they were one day told they would be set free. "We feel we got our life back when we meet our relatives and friends here."
The fishermen thanked the Union government and also CITU's Tamil Nadu fishing workers federation for taking steps to secure their release.