(UDHAYAM, COLOMBO) – Amidst tight security, seven Sri Lankan fishermen, who were apprehended by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) personnel of Thoothukudi station on April 4 on charges of illegal fishing in Indian waters under the Maritime Zones of India Act, were brought from Puzhal central prision to Thoothukudi on Monday, The Hindu reported.
The detained fishermen were interrogated by Collector M. Ravikumar, officials of the ICG, Coastal Security Group, Fisheries Department, Customs and security agencies. The interrogation lasted for about an hour and its report would be forwarded to the government, sources said.
The Indian Coast Guard Ship ‘Vaibhav’, during its security patrol operation had spotted the Lankan fishermen straying into the Indian waters at about 150 nautical miles off Kanniyakumari coast.
The CSG personnel produced them before Judicial Magistrate II A. Kannan in Ramanathapuram late on Thursday evening. The judge remanded them in custody till April 20. They were taken to Chennai to be lodged in Puzhal Central Prison. The detained fishermen were identified as Dinesh Kumar Fernando (35), Warnakulasooriya Antony Tiresa (27), Warnakulasooriya Sumith Fernando (28), Wijesinha Sisirakumara (36), Demodara Chandra Athanayaka (25), Chamika Athanaulza (22) and Dinesh Shanka Fernando, sources said.