Thirty-four Tamil Nadu fishermen, released by Sri Lankan courts after being detained by the island nation Navy last month, arrived at nearby Karaikal Port on Tuesday.
State Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar, District Collector S Pazhanisamy and other officials received the fishermen from Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram Districts, who were arrested in batches on different dates last month.
Jayakumar said the government had taken steps to send the fishermen to their respective home towns.
Sri Lankan courts had released the fishermen on May 14 following the government's decision to set them free.
However, due to the depression and cyclone in the Bay of Bengal, the released fishermen could return only today.
The Sri Lankan Navy handed over the 34 fishermen to the Indian Coast Guard authorities near the International Maritime Boundary Line this morning.
Family members and relatives of the fishermen had gathered in large numbers and it was an emotional reunion for them.
Later, speaking to reporters, the released fishermen said their livelihood had now become a big question mark as their boats seized by the Sri Lankan Navy had not been released.
They appealed to the government for steps for securing the release of the 93 boats seized by the Lankan Navy so far from Tamil Nadu fishermen.
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