NEW DELHI, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- At least 80 Indian fishermen released by Sri Lankan authorities reached southern state of Tamil Nadu, officials said Tuesday.
"Eighty Indian fishermen released from Sri Lankan jail returned home last night," a government official in Chennai said. "The fishermen from Tamil Nadu were welcomed by Nagai district administration and relatives of fishermen at Karaikal private port on their arrival."
The Sri Lankan Navy handed over the fishermen to Indian coast guard personnel at the international maritime boundary line and from there they were brought to their native state.
The fishermen have been released by Sri Lanka as a goodwill gesture.
The fishermen were later sent to their villages, the official said.
"The released fishermen include 48 from Pudukottai, 24 fishermen from Ramanathapuram and eight fishermen from Nagapattinam," the official said.
The fishermen urged the local government officials to secure the fishing boats detained by Sri Lanka during their arrest.
Fishermen of two countries are often jailed for accidentally crossing into each other's territory. The fishermen from two countries traverse poorly defined boundary in the international waters as most fishing boats lack technologies to locate exact positions.
