The Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Prahari took custody of the 71 fishermen and their boats released by Sri Lanka on Friday, along the IMBL.
The men are slated to arrive here in the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. These fishermen from Pudukottai and Rameshwaram are the second batch of fishermen to be set free.
Of the 15 boats, eight were reportedly in non-operational state and were being towed by the Coast Guard ship, Commandant Udhal Singh, Coast Guard Station, Karaikal, told The Hindu.
This would be followed by the repatriation of 111 fishermen of Nagapattinam and their 15 boats at around midnight of Saturday.
ICGS Vigraha would take custody of this batch of fishermen.
