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The High Commission of India in Sri Lanka Wednesday said the 13 Indian fishermen detained by the Lankan Navy in December would be released soon.
The Sri Lankan Navy detained the Tamil fishermen last month and seized their boats, claiming that they had crossed the international maritime borders.
![Fishermen moor their boat with ropes in Chennai on November 10, 2021. (Photo by Arun SANKAR / AFP) (Photo by ARUN SANKAR/AFP via Getty Images)]({"default":{"load":"default","w":"80","h":"53","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AAStLgD.img?h=533&w=799&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"},"size3column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"42","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AAStLgD.img?h=417&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"},"size2column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"42","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AAStLgD.img?h=417&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"}})
Earlier, officials from the Indian Consulate in Jaffna had met the fishermen in December after they were detained by the Lankan Navy, and offered necessary support to them. Officials provided basic necessities like clothes, snacks, and they have reportedly asked them to follow all COVID protocols. The detainees were also facilitated to speak to their relatives on calls, India Today reported.
The Lankan Navy has detained 55 fishermen – excluding these 13 detainees – for allegedly crossing the international maritime and ten boats have been seized by them. After the fisherfolk from Rameshwaram and surrounding regions got to know about the men going missing, they went on a hunger strike demanding that the Centre bring them back. (ABP Live)