Families and relatives of 10 Pamban fishermen, who are being held in a Sri Lankan prison, on Saturday staged a road blockade in Pamban here, demanding their immediate release.
On August 5 last, 10 fishermen set sail from the Pamban fishing harbour. They were subsequently arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on charges of crossing the maritime boundary.
In September, a Sri Lankan court ordered them to pay a fine totalling ₹1.40 crore. The court further ruled that failing to pay the fine would result in 18 months of imprisonment, leading to their current incarceration in a Sri Lankan jail. After more than five months in custody, the health of the fishermen had reportedly deteriorated, the protesters said.
In response, their families and relatives staged a protest, blocking the Madurai-Dhanushkodi National Highway near the Pamban bus stand. The protest caused a significant traffic jam, with vehicles heading to and from Rameswaram lined up for over half an hour.
The blockade ended after the Assistant Director of Fisheries from Pamban arrived at the spot. He informed the protesters that the Indian government had filed an appeal in the Sri Lankan High Court in Colombo seeking the fishermen’s release.
He assured them that the case had been taken up for hearing and a verdict was expected soon, following which the families dispersed.
Published – January 24, 2026 09:19 pm IST
