The 23 Indianfishermen who were arrested in Sri Lanka last week, were released from judicialcustody yesterday and are expected to return home today, officials said.
The detained fishermen, along with their five boats that were seized, would behanded over by the Lankan Navy to Indian Coastguard today at the InternationalMaritime Boundary Line (IMBL), Coast Guard Assistant Commander Safaya said.
The fishermen are expected to reach Indian shores by evening. The release ofthe fishermen was ordered yesterday afternoon by Mannar district courtmagistrate Karuppiah Jeevarani, Intelligence Bureau officials said.
The fishermen, on board five trawlers, were held last week off the north eastcoat of Mannar by the Lankan Navy and then handed over to the Talaimannarpolice. Following the arrest, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had soughtPrime Minister Manmohan Singh�s intervention to secure their release, PTIreports.
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