Rameswaram:
The 23 Tamil Nadu fishermen, set free by a court in Sri Lanka after being detained by the island navy on the charge of poaching, arrived at Mandapam coast near Rameswaram today.
The fishermen, taken into custody on July 22 when they were fishing near Katchatheevu, were released by a court in Mannar yesterday after India made an appeal to Sri Lanka.
Indian Coast Guard personnel, to whom the fishermen along with their five boats were handed over by Sri Lankan Navalmen at the International Maritime Border, brought them to the shores this morning, Assistant Director of Fisheries Karthikeyan said.
However, the arrival of the fishermen was delayed by nearly 12 hours as the boats ran out of diesel in mid-sea.
The family members of the fishermen, belonging to Rameswaram, were present at Mandapam shores to welcome them.