19 TN fishermen released by Lankan court

Nineteen fishermen from here, arrested by Sri Lankan Navy recently on charges of poaching, were released today by a court in the island republic, a local fisherman association leader said.

The fishermen, under judicial remand, were ordered to be released by a court in northern Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Mechanised Boats Fishermen Association president P Sesuraja said.

All the 19 fishermen would return home in a day or two, he said.

The fishermen were among the 27 arrested by the Lankan navy since February and lodged in a jail in Jaffna.

Efforts were on to free the remaining eight, Sesuraja added.

On February 9 last, a Sri Lankan court, acting on the island government's recommendation, had set free 113 Indian fishermen arrested over a period of time till January this year.