Coast Guard handover 6 Lankan, 6 Indian fishermen to police

Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, Apr 12 (UNI) The Indian Coast Guard today handed over 12 fishermen, including six Lankans, who were taken into custody at mid-sea on April 10, to police for further questioning.

Sources said six Lankan fishermen were found drifting in the Indian territorial waters, after their boat's engine developed a technical snag by an equal number of Indians. The Indian Coast Guard ship 'Nayak Devi' took into custody the Lankan fishermen for crossing into Indian waters and the Indian fishermen for further enquiry.

They were handed over to District Superintendent of Police John Nickesson here.

The Lankan fishermen have been identified as -- Arul Ganadas (21), Robin (23), Selvakumar (19), Ponibas (28), Arul (19) and Ravi Kumar (34). While the Indians, all belonging to Kanyakumari district as -- Albert (36), Antony (38), Stalin (25), Nelson (34), Stalin Sudhakar (18) and Sahaya Wilson (25).

It was claimed that the Lankan fishermen were drifting in mid sea for about ten days without food and water.

UNI