On December 5 last, the court extended their remand to December 19 and later again to January 2, this year. Later, the remand period was extended to January 16.
Mechanised boat fishermen had begun an indefinite strike on January 6, demanding immediate release of 13 fishermen, including these five, arrested by the Sri Lankan navy since November 28 and had urged the Centre to take steps to get them released.
They had also urged both Sri Lanka and India not to arrest fishermen if they cross International Maritime Boundary Line.
The Tamil Nadu fishermen often go into the Sri Lankan waters lured by the catch. With the marine wealth eroding in Indian waters due to the use of banned nets, fishermen have no option but to go into Sri Lankan waters for the catch.
Recently, 13 fishermen from Akkaraipatti in Nagapattinam district were captured by the Sri Lankan coast guard sending everyone in the village into a shock. The villagers confirmed the arrest by contacting the Indian embassy, which told them that the captured fishermen were kept in custody in Trincomalee.
However, it could not be ascertained whether they crossed the international border.
