23 Indian fishermen to be released

PTI: The 23 fishermen from Tamil Nadu, arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on 20 June, will be released in two days, the State government on Friday said.

“The Centre has informed that the Sri Lankan government had assured that the arrested fishermen will be released in two days,” a State government release said.

It said that Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh requesting his intervention in securing the release of the fishermen and also instructed State Chief Secretary Debendranath Sarangi to take follow-up action with the Centre.

“The Chief Secretary was in constant touch with National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon and other Central officials on the release of the fishermen,” it said.

The Sri Lankan Navy had detained the 23 fishermen hailing from Mandapam and Rameswaram areas after they “inadvertently” strayed into the island nation’s waters.

Fishermen in Rameswaram, who went on an indefinite strike from 20 June protesting the arrest, withdrew their agitation on Thursday after officials assured them that efforts were being made for the safe release of their colleagues.