Indian fishermen handed over to Indian coast guard

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 June 2003, 10:39 GMT]
Nine Indian fishermen and four boatmen were handed over to the Indian coast naval guard in midsea off Mannar Monday by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) on the orders of the Mannar acting Magistrate Mr.M.M.Saburdeen, legal sources said.

Nine Indian fishermen were detained at Mirihana detention camp on the orders of the Mannar Magistrate since March 15 after they were handed over to the Sri Lanka Navy by Sri Lankan fishermen for poaching in Sri Lankan terroritorial waters, legal sources said.

The four Indian boatmen were also allowed to go to India in their boats. However they stayed in a weaving centre in Mannar because their boats were in damaged condition. Neighbors recently saved one of the boatmen when he attempted to commit suicide due to frustration, sources said.

Due to the intervention of the Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka's Inspector General of Police directed the Police in Mannar to make arrangements to hand over the Indian fishermen and boatmen to the Indian coast guard through the Sri Lanka Navy, sources said.

When the case related to these Indian fishermen and boatmen were taken up for inquiry, on an application made by the Police the Mannar acting Magistrate directed the Police to hand over the thirteen Indian fishermen to the Sri Lanka Navy enabling them hand over them to the Indian coast guard, sources said