A day after the Lankan authorities ordered the release of 51 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu, the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court here has ordered the release of three Sri Lankan Tamil fishermen, after the State government ordered their release.
After Collector S. Natarajan forwarded the government letter, ordering the release of the fishermen, CJM Jayaraj issued orders on Saturday, ordering their release and instructed the police personnel to present the order at Puzhal central prison, where the fishermen were lodged. The fishermen – R. Arulnesan (25), his brother R. Devanesan (23) alias Thambu from Kalikulam in Vavuniya and V. Viji (25) from Talaimannar were arrested by the Marine police of Coastal Security Group (CSG) on October 22, when they were found straying into the Indian waters near Arichalmunai off Danushkodi after running out of fuel. After they could not be produced through video conferencing last week, Judicial Magistrate-I A. Kannan, who was in-charge of CJM court, had ordered their immediate production before the court, after which, they were produced before the CJM court on January 4, when the CJM extended their judicial remand for 15 days.
Earlier, U. Arulanandham, president of the Alliance for the Release of Innocent Fishermen (ARIF) had objected to the remand extension without their production before the court on December 30 and demanded their release. He welcomed the release of the fishermen.
