Homecoming for seven

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JUNE 2. Seven Tamil fishermen, who were detained by the Sri Lankan Navy since February for transgressing territorial waters off Rameswaram, returned to an emotional homecoming at the international airport here on Friday.

The seven, who are part of a group of 17 fishermen detained in a prison at Colombo since February 19, were brought from Colombo by an Indian Airlines flight to Thiruvananthapuram today.

The group was greeted at the airport by relatives, and officials of the Fisheries, Revenue and Police Departments from Tamil Nadu. The police gave the names of the fishermen as Manikantan, Ramanathan, Chudalaimani, Lingadorai, Kailasam, Muthuswamy and Ambakilavan. Another member of the group, 38-year-old Raviraj, had died due to illness and the body was flown to Tiruchi last month, police said.

According to police, excepting one, none had passports and were flown in on the basis of emergency certificates issued by the Indian Embassy in Colombo. The release of the detenus was obtained following persistent pressure mounted on the Sri Lankan Government by the Indian Embassy in Colombo. The Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, is also reported to have intervened to secure their release.

Our Nagercoil Staff Reporter writes:

The seven Tamil Nadu fishermen, hailing from Tirunelveli and Rameswaram, were brought to the State this evening and moved to their respective villages by the officials.

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