After releasing 21 fishermen out of the 22 people who were arrested for fishing in international waters, the court sentenced one fisherman, K Nambumurugan, to two years of jail, citing repeated offence as the crime. The recurring incidents of fishermen from Tamil Nadu who venture into the southeastern coast of India for fishing and Sri Lankan Navy arresting them for alleged fishing in international waters and poaching has been ongoing for so many years now.
Similarly, on October 14 and 28, the Sri Lankan Navy had arrested around 64 fishermen alleging that they were fishing in the Sri Lankan waters. They had even confiscated 10 trawlers belonging to the fishermen. The arrested fishermen were produced before a court in Jaffna and were sent to judicial remand. Following the massive arrests, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote a letter to Minister of External Affairs Dr. Jaishankar requesting the Centre to take immediate steps to help release the arrested fishermen of Tamil Nadu. Further, the Sri Lankan Court on November 8th in fact released four arrested fishermen in the first phase.
Later, in a second phase, on the 9th of November, the Sri Lankan court ordered for a three-year prison sentence for 38 fishermen and stated that this would be implemented after five years and released them on a conditional bail. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, November 15, as part of the third phase of hearing after completion of the judicial remand, Judge Gajaneethibalan of the Sri Lankan court has released 21 fishermen out of the 22 people who were remaining in the prison except for one 20-year-old Kumaran Nambumurugan. The judge sentenced him for two years stating that he was a repeated offender. The judge even warned of a five-year rigorous imprisonment if the offence is repeated.
According to sources, the judge during the November 15 hearing, recognised Nambumurugan from a similar case in April last year and remembered judicial custody that was given to him. Therefore, he was ordered to serve two years prison time by the judge. The 21 fishermen who were ordered to be released are expected to reach India in the next couple of days. Meanwhile, Nambumurugan, who has been sentenced would be serving his prison time.
The families of the fishermen and people belonging to the community say they are shocked to hear this action taken against their fellow fisherman. The community people have now appealed to the state government and the central government to intervene in this matter to help Nambumurugan return to India.