5 'missing' fishermen return to TN

Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, May 18 (UNI) Five of the 12 fishermen who were reported missing from Kanniyakumari on March 4 have returned, according to highly placed sources.

The fishermen who returned on a boat to Dhanushkodi here along with some refugees have been identified as Seshraj, Rathayus, Albert,Kissinger and Joseph Raj.

The sources saidd they had been taken for questioning by the police. Further details were awaited.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had informed the Assembly that steps were being taken to trace the 12 missing fishermen.

He said the government had communicated to the Centre for taking steps to secure the release of the fishermen 'who were in the custody of LTTE in Sri Lanka.' This was according to the statement by six Lankan Tamils who were secured by Indian Coast Guards when they were stranded in the mid-sea on 11 April in their boat.

UNI