The family members of the fishermen sentenced to death by a Sri Lankan court.
Despite being friends for years, Emerson and Langlet would never have imagined that they would share a death sentence one day. Both fishermen were on Thursday sentenced to death by a Sri Lankan court for allegedly trafficking drugs.
When they left their village three years ago, Emerson was steering their boat. Now as they languish in a jail in Sri Lanka along with three other fishermen, their families are finding it hard to come to terms with this latest news.
Langlet's 50-year-old father, Infant, says between his loud wails, "I believe my son will come back. The MP has assured this. My son is wrongly implicated."
Emerson's 31-year-old wife Lavinia last spoke to him two years ago. Her two-and-a-half-year-old son does not remember his father. "My son can't even understand when I show him his father's photograph."
In a nearby village, 31-year-old Jhansi lives with her three children and 70-year-old mother-in-law. She married Wilson 14 years ago. But now with his death sentence, his family has lost its only bread earner.
Jhansi, as she broke down, said, "Emerson could have never done this. He is innocent. Fishermen should not be treated like this. He had gone for fishing."
While fishermen in Kerala have announced an indefinite strike demanding the release of these five, the govt has assured of all possible help.