The fishermen who were produced before the Court have been released after the court accepted a flea.

The Navy arrested the fishermen, who have reportedly crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and were fishing in the Sri Lankan waters, along with their two trawlers and handed them over to Thalaimannar police. They had been remanded in the Thalaimannar prison.

The fishermen will be handed over to the Sri Lankan Navy which will hand them and their trawlers over to the Indian Coast Guard at the IMBL.

Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Ashok K. Kantha has confirmed their release to Indian daily The Hindu, and added that they will be repatriated on Tuesday.

Eight other fishermen are in Sri Lankan jails on different charges. Five Indian fishermen arrested in November last year have been charged with drug smuggling while three others arrested earlier this month are charged with people smuggling.