Seventy-seven Indian and twelve Sri Lankan fishermen were today repatriated in line with the decision taken by two countries to set free fishermen in each other&rsquo;s custody<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lankas-navy-fatally-shoots-one-indian-fisherman-wounds-three-13117"> to defuse tension following the killing of an Indian fisherman last week</a> and laid to rest yesterday at Amthoniyarpuram Cemetery in Rameswaram in India&#39;s southern state of&nbsp;Tamil Nadu. 
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The Sri Lankan Navy handed over the seventy-seven&nbsp;fishermen from Tamil Nadu, arrested over the past two months, to Indian Coast Guard at the International Maritime Boundary Line in the Palk Bay. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
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India had released twelve&nbsp;Sri Lankan fishermen released from the Puzhal Prison in Chennai on March 10, and handed over to the Sri Lankan Navy. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

The twelve Sri Lankan&nbsp;fishermen were arrested off Nagapattinam coast on March 8 and 9 by Indian Coast Guard for allegedly fishing in Indian waters. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

The Tamil Nadu fishermen are expected to arrive at Karaikal coast in two ICG ships, &ldquo;Rani Durgavati&rdquo; and &ldquo;Abith&rdquo; by 6 PM (Indian Standard Time), police said.&nbsp;Later, they would be taken to their respective destinations. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

The seventy-seven&nbsp;fishermen from Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram districts were arrested by the Lankan Navy for allegedly fishing in their territorial waters between February and March and lodged in Jaffna and Vavuniya prisons in the island nation. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
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Sri Lanka and India had on Wednesday agreed to release fishermen held in each other&rsquo;s custody after a high-level discussion between the two sides in Colombo in a bid to defuse the tension following the killing of the 22-year-old Indian fisherman, Bridgo.

Meanwhile, eight fishermen from Karaikal are still in Trincomalee prison there, police from Tricomalle added. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
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(WION)

India had released twelve Sri Lankan fishermen released from the Puzhal Prison in Chennai on March 10

Seventy-seven Indian and twelve Sri Lankan fishermen were today repatriated in line with the decision taken by two countries to set free fishermen in each other’s custody to defuse tension following the killing of an Indian fisherman last week and laid to rest yesterday at Amthoniyarpuram Cemetery in Rameswaram in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu. The Sri Lankan Navy handed over the seventy-seven fishermen from Tamil Nadu, arrested over the past two months, to Indian Coast Guard at the International Maritime Boundary Line in the Palk Bay. India had released twelve Sri Lankan fishermen released from the Puzhal Prison in Chennai on March 10, and handed over to the Sri Lankan Navy. The twelve Sri Lankan fishermen were arrested off Nagapattinam coast on March 8 and 9 by Indian Coast Guard for allegedly fishing in Indian waters. The Tamil Nadu fishermen are expected to arrive at Karaikal coast in two ICG ships, “Rani Durgavati” and “Abith” by 6 PM (Indian Standard Time), police said. Later, they would be taken to their respective destinations. The seventy-seven fishermen from Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram districts were arrested by the Lankan Navy for allegedly fishing in their territorial waters between February and March and lodged in Jaffna and Vavuniya prisons in the island nation. Sri Lanka and India had on Wednesday agreed to release fishermen held in each other’s custody after a high-level discussion between the two sides in Colombo in a bid to defuse the tension following the killing of the 22-year-old Indian fisherman, Bridgo. Meanwhile, eight fishermen from Karaikal are still in Trincomalee prison there, police from Tricomalle added. (WION)

Sri Lanka releases 77 Indian fishermen to defuse bilateral tension

Sri Lanka&#39;s navy fatally shot an Indian fisherman off the coast of India&#39;s southern Tamil Nadu state, a development that threatens to sour relations between the two&nbsp;countries.

Three other fishermen were injured during the shooting in Adambalam, part of India-controlled waters, Indian media reports suggested.

The latest flash point comes a week after the Sri Lankan Navy detained 15 Indian fishermen and took away their equipment and fishing gear.

The incident comes on the heels of Tamil Nadu&#39;s chief minister E. Palanisami writing a letter to India&#39;s federal government, shedding light about Colombo&#39;s repeated harassment of fishermen from the state.

The chief minister&#39;s letter had highlighted how Sri Lanka was wantonly detaining fishermen in the past few months.

The two countries, which are separated by 12 nautical miles, have been embroiled in a terse fishing dispute over the last few years.

India says the island nation have been guilty of arresting people fishing in the Palk Strait, and Sri Lanka accuses India of using mechanised trawlers that are damaging to the ecosystem.&nbsp;

Colombo in the past has urged the Indian side to ban the trawlers but New Delhi has remained reticent about it.

Sri Lanka also cites the advantage the Indian fishermen have when they use mechanised trawlers. They claim the Indian fishermen often transgress the International Maritime Border and deprive their fishermen of their daily catch.

Relations had hit a low point in 2015 when the then prime minister Ranil Wickramsinghe&nbsp;had told a television channel that &quot;if Indian fishermen cross the sea boundary, Sri Lankan navy can shoot them&quot; -- comments that were condemned by human rights activists and was also objected strongly by New Delhi.

(WION with inputs from ANI)

The latest flash point comes a week after the Sri Lankan Navy detained 15 Indian fishermen and took away their equipment and fishing gear

Sri Lanka's navy fatally shot an Indian fisherman off the coast of India's southern Tamil Nadu state, a development that threatens to sour relations between the two countries. Three other fishermen were injured during the shooting in Adambalam, part of India-controlled waters, Indian media reports suggested. The latest flash point comes a week after the Sri Lankan Navy detained 15 Indian fishermen and took away their equipment and fishing gear. The incident comes on the heels of Tamil Nadu's chief minister E. Palanisami writing a letter to India's federal government, shedding light about Colombo's repeated harassment of fishermen from the state. The chief minister's letter had highlighted how Sri Lanka was wantonly detaining fishermen in the past few months. The two countries, which are separated by 12 nautical miles, have been embroiled in a terse fishing dispute over the last few years. India says the island nation have been guilty of arresting people fishing in the Palk Strait, and Sri Lanka accuses India of using mechanised trawlers that are damaging to the ecosystem. Colombo in the past has urged the Indian side to ban the trawlers but New Delhi has remained reticent about it. Sri Lanka also cites the advantage the Indian fishermen have when they use mechanised trawlers. They claim the Indian fishermen often transgress the International Maritime Border and deprive their fishermen of their daily catch. Relations had hit a low point in 2015 when the then prime minister Ranil Wickramsinghe had told a television channel that "if Indian fishermen cross the sea boundary, Sri Lankan navy can shoot them" -- comments that were condemned by human rights activists and was also objected strongly by New Delhi. (WION with inputs from ANI)

Sri Lanka's navy fatally shoots one Indian fisherman, wounds three

At least 135 Pakistani fishermen are languishing in Indian jails, the country&#39;s Foreign Office told the Supreme Court.

Of them, &quot;98 are awaiting consular access, two prisoners are awaiting their repatriation to Pakistan and 35 are awaiting their national status to be confirmed&quot;, the FO stated in a report handed to the country&#39;s highest court.

The FO report also mentioned that 121 fishermen were released by India in 2015 and just 9 in 2016.

The Foreign Office compiled the report after&nbsp;Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum and the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research petitioned the apex court to urge Islamabad to make efforts to repatriate those detained in Indian jails.

However, the counsel of the two organisations who filed a petition with the Supreme Court said the number of the fishermen could be much higher as there are many whose &quot;names are not available in the list compiled by the Pakistan high commission (in India)&quot;. He said the country&#39;s interior ministry had a larger number than that provided by the Foreign Office.

Pakistan, meanwhile, has released over 400 detained Indian fishermen in the last two months.

India-Pakistan maritime trespassing is mostly common among fishermen operating from India&#39;s Gujarat state and Pakistan&#39;s Sindh province due to their geographical proximity.

(WION with inputs from PTI)

Detained Pakistani fishermen figure may be higher as the Foreign Office number is lower than that of the interior ministry's count

At least 135 Pakistani fishermen are languishing in Indian jails, the country's Foreign Office told the Supreme Court. Of them, "98 are awaiting consular access, two prisoners are awaiting their repatriation to Pakistan and 35 are awaiting their national status to be confirmed", the FO stated in a report handed to the country's highest court. The FO report also mentioned that 121 fishermen were released by India in 2015 and just 9 in 2016. The Foreign Office compiled the report after Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum and the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research petitioned the apex court to urge Islamabad to make efforts to repatriate those detained in Indian jails. However, the counsel of the two organisations who filed a petition with the Supreme Court said the number of the fishermen could be much higher as there are many whose "names are not available in the list compiled by the Pakistan high commission (in India)". He said the country's interior ministry had a larger number than that provided by the Foreign Office. Pakistan, meanwhile, has released over 400 detained Indian fishermen in the last two months. India-Pakistan maritime trespassing is mostly common among fishermen operating from India's Gujarat state and Pakistan's Sindh province due to their geographical proximity. (WION with inputs from PTI)

At least 135 fishermen languishing in Indian jails: Pakistan

India&#39;s apex court on Wednesday&nbsp;allowed Massimiliano Latorre &mdash;&nbsp;one of the two Italian&nbsp;marines&nbsp;facing murder trial &mdash;&nbsp;to stay in his homeland till the international arbitral tribunal decides the jurisdictional issue between the two countries, said Indian channels.

Latorre, along with fellow marine Salvatore Girone, is accused of killing two Indian fishermen they mistook for pirates in 2012.

The court ruled all the conditions that were imposed on Girone would also be applicable to Latorre.

Latorre returned to Italy after suffering a stroke in 2014 and has since stayed there. In 2016 April, the court had allowed Latorre to further delay his return.

In May 2016 the court also allowed Girone to return to Italy.

The dispute has strained relations between India and Italy and its European Union partners.

In an effort to end four years of legal wrangling, both countries have moved their dispute to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.

Italy argues that the case should not be heard in India because the incident occurred in international waters. India has said it remains confident the tribunal will decide in its favour.

(Reuters)

Massimiliano Latorre, along with fellow marine Salvatore Girone, is accused of killing two Indian fishermen they mistook for pirates in 2012

India's apex court on Wednesday allowed Massimiliano Latorre — one of the two Italian marines facing murder trial — to stay in his homeland till the international arbitral tribunal decides the jurisdictional issue between the two countries, said Indian channels. Latorre, along with fellow marine Salvatore Girone, is accused of killing two Indian fishermen they mistook for pirates in 2012. The court ruled all the conditions that were imposed on Girone would also be applicable to Latorre. Latorre returned to Italy after suffering a stroke in 2014 and has since stayed there. In 2016 April, the court had allowed Latorre to further delay his return. In May 2016 the court also allowed Girone to return to Italy. The dispute has strained relations between India and Italy and its European Union partners. In an effort to end four years of legal wrangling, both countries have moved their dispute to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. Italy argues that the case should not be heard in India because the incident occurred in international waters. India has said it remains confident the tribunal will decide in its favour. (Reuters)

India's top court allows Italian marine to stay in Italy

Sri Lankan Navy arrested five Indian fishermen and seized a boat for crossing maritime boundary, said fishermen association in southern Tamil Nadu state on Sunday. 
 
The fishermen were fishing near the Delft Island in the Palk Strait, a strait bounded by southern Mannar district and northern island of Sri Lanka. 
 
All fishermen hailed from Rameshwaram city of the state. 
 
This is second such incident in the month as three fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on June 5. 
 
A delegation of Tamil Nadu Fishermen Association met foreign minister Sushma Swaraj earlier this week, seeking her intervention in release of fishermen languishing in Sri Lankan jails. 
 
&quot;Despite her (Sushma Swaraj) assurance, the news on the arrest of fishermen has surfaced again. Hence, on behalf of Tamil Nadu Fishermen Association, we request the federal government to get to the end of this matter,&quot; said Tamil Nadu Fishermen Federation, secretary, CR Senthilvel. 
 
Detention of Indian fishermen by Lankan authorities is frequent, as they often cross the International Maritime Boundary Line for fishing in its waters 
 
Sri Lanka has long fumed over poaching and illegal fishing by Indian fishermen that it says deplete the catches of its own fishermen. 
 
In November last year, as many as 126 Indian fishermen, arrested by Sri Lankan navy on the charges of poaching, were released. 
 
(Reuters)

Sri Lanka has long fumed over poaching and illegal fishing that it says deplete its own industry

Sri Lankan Navy arrested five Indian fishermen and seized a boat for crossing maritime boundary, said fishermen association in southern Tamil Nadu state on Sunday. The fishermen were fishing near the Delft Island in the Palk Strait, a strait bounded by southern Mannar district and northern island of Sri Lanka. All fishermen hailed from Rameshwaram city of the state. This is second such incident in the month as three fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on June 5. A delegation of Tamil Nadu Fishermen Association met foreign minister Sushma Swaraj earlier this week, seeking her intervention in release of fishermen languishing in Sri Lankan jails. "Despite her (Sushma Swaraj) assurance, the news on the arrest of fishermen has surfaced again. Hence, on behalf of Tamil Nadu Fishermen Association, we request the federal government to get to the end of this matter," said Tamil Nadu Fishermen Federation, secretary, CR Senthilvel. Detention of Indian fishermen by Lankan authorities is frequent, as they often cross the International Maritime Boundary Line for fishing in its waters Sri Lanka has long fumed over poaching and illegal fishing by Indian fishermen that it says deplete the catches of its own fishermen. In November last year, as many as 126 Indian fishermen, arrested by Sri Lankan navy on the charges of poaching, were released. (Reuters)

Sri Lankan Navy arrests five Indian fishermen for crossing maritime boundary