Eleven fishermen from Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, who were detained by the Sri Lankan Coast Guard in January, returned home to an emotional welcome at Chennai airport on Wednesday night.

The fishermen were arrested on January 11 for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) during a fishing trip. Their boats were seized, and they were remanded to judicial custody in Sri Lanka.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had urged the Union government to intervene. Following diplomatic efforts by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian High Commission in Colombo, the fishermen were released on May 14 and flown back to India.

They were received at the airport by officials from the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department and later sent to Rameswaram, where their families welcomed them.

The incident underscores ongoing maritime disputes between India and Sri Lanka, often affecting Indian fishermen. CM Stalin has called for a lasting diplomatic solution to protect fishermen’s rights and livelihoods.