TN releases six Lankan fishermen

Cuddalore, June 2 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Government today released six Sri Lankan fishermen arrested under the Passport Act at Devanampatinam coast on April 1.

According to police, the fishermen from Trincomalee, who ventured into the sea reached the Devanampatinam coast as their boat drifted ashore following a technical snag. The Cuddalore police took them to custody. They were booked under the Passport Act and remanded to judicial custody.

Meanwhile, a joint interrogation team under RTO Brinda Devi and DSP Stephen Jesubalan questioned the fishermen and found them to be innocent. They submitted a report in this regard to Cuddalore District Collector Rajendra Rathinu who in turn forwarded the same to the State Government.

With the concurrence of the Union Government, the cases against them were withdrawn and handed over to a Sri Lankan Government official.

The Indian Coast Guard would hand over the fishermen to the Sri Lankan Navy later.

UNI