NAGAPATTINAM: Around 42 fishermen from Keechankuppam and Akkaraipettai fishing hamlets in Nagapattinam area were abducted by Sri Lankan Navy on Tuesday. They were all taken to Trincomalee and were released on Wednesday. According to the fishermen panchayat representatives of Akkaraipettai hamlet, the 42 fishermen ventured into the sea in six boats on January 22. When they were fishing off the Kodiakarai coast in Indian waters on January 24, a group of Sri Lankan Navy personnel, who arrived in a fast craft, reportedly abducted them and took them to Trincomalee port.Soon after the news about the abduction reached the hamlets, relatives became anxious. Fishermen representatives convened an emergency meeting and launched an indefinite strike demanding steps to secure their release. Thousands of fishermen did not venture into sea on Wednesday. They had appealed to the State government through Fisheries Minister K A Jayapaul for steps to secure their immediate release. Meanwhile, on Wednesday evening, fishermen panchayat representatives at Keechankuppam, quoting sources in Fisheries Department, announced that all the abducted fishermen had been released and would reach Nagai coast soon. Later V Gunasekaran, Assistant director of fisheries also confirmed the release of all fishermen.
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