The Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court here has given approval for the release of five Sri Lankan fishing boats. They were impounded by the Marine Police after the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) had apprehended 26 Lankan fishermen with their boats in May and September last year.
When the Inspectors of Police of Thermal Nagar and Tharuvaikulam Marine Police in Tuticorin appealed to the court seeking release of the boats, CJM T. Jayarajan said the case was no longer pending before the court and the properties (boats) might be released as per government letter.
As the government had withdrawn the case, the boats were not remanded and the accused (Lankan fishermen) had already been released, the CJM said.
However, the “properties may be released as per government letter and a (compliance) report may be furnished to this court,” the CJM said.
The Marine Inspectors of Police presented copies of an order issued by Mr. Jatindra Nath Swain, Principal Secretary to the State government, on February 14, requesting the Tuticorin District Collector to coordinate with all agencies concerned and take steps for the early release and rehabilitation of the boats.
The ICG, Tuticorin station, had apprehended 14 Lankan fishermen with three fishing vessels on May 19 when they were fishing in Indian waters off Kanyakumari.
In another incident, the ICG had apprehended 12 fishermen with their two boats on September 30, also on a charge of poaching.
They were impounded by
the Marine Police