A Sri Lankan court has released four Telugu fishermen—three from Andhra Pradesh and one from Yanam, Puducherry Union Territory—after their boat inadvertently crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) due to a faulty GPS system. The fishermen, identified as P. Brahmanandam (53), C. Nageswararao (49), K. Nookaraju (40), and K. Srinu (44), were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy on September 3 while sailing off the Kanyakumari coast in Tamil Nadu, police said.

The group had purchased a ₹28 lakh fishing boat in Mela Kadiapattinam, Tamil Nadu, on September 2. A navigation error led their vessel into Sri Lankan waters, resulting in their detention and appearance before the Kayts Magistrate Court, which initially remanded them until September 18. After verifying their documents and finding no evidence of illegal fishing or bottom trawling, Sri Lankan authorities issued release orders on Thursday. The fishermen, held in Jaffna Prison, received food, clothing, legal aid, and family contact through the Indian Community Welfare Fund, according to police.

The fishermen and their seized boat are expected to be handed over to the Indian Coast Guard or Navy within the next week, following the completion of formalities, an official told PTI. The incident underscores recurring navigational challenges faced by fishermen, with faulty GPS systems often leading to unintentional border crossings.

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The release has brought relief to the fishermen’s families in Kakinada and Yanam, who awaited their return. Authorities are urging improved GPS technology and awareness to prevent such incidents, which strain India-Sri Lanka maritime relations.

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