After spending more than a month in custody, 19 fishermen from Kerala and Tamil Nadu released by Seychelles authorities, reached home today.
Out of 19, eight belonged to Poovar here and others were from Kanayakumari in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters during cabinet briefing here.
The fishermen, who arrived at Kochi International airport, were taken to the state capital in a special bus by the district administration, Chandy said.
The issue of fishermen, caught by Seychelles authorities for allegedly crossing IMBL on January 29, had been taken up with the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during a meeting at New Delhi yesterday, he said.
Two captains of the boat, that set off from Kochi on January 15, were still in the custody of Seychelles and efforts were on to get their release, Chandy said.
Shashi Tharoor, Chairman of the External Affairs Committee of Parliament, who accompanied Chandy during the meeting with the Union Minister, said that two captains would also be released soon.
