Chennai: Twenty-four Indian fishermen apprehended by Sri Lankan Navy were being released today (Aug 13, 2004), External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh has informed DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) President M Karunanidhi.

The Indian High Commission in Colombo took up the matter on a priority basis with the Sri Lankan Government, which has informed that the remaining fishermen were in judicial custody, and lodged in Jaffna prison, Singh said in a letter to Karunanidhi.

The fishermen who were being set free included 21 of the 25 fishermen of Nagapattinam detained by Sri Lankan Navy when they allegedly trespassed into Sri Lankan territory on Aug 4.

Four other fishermen who were being released today were arrested on an earlier occasion. Another group, who were also trawling in the same area, informed the detention to the officials.