In deep waters for months, six fishers return
CHENNAI/MADURAI: After languishing on unknown shores for several months, five fishermen from Tamil Nadu and one from Kerala finally returned home on Sunday morning with the help of Commissionerate of Rehabilitation and Welfare of Non-Resident Tamils and the Indian embassy in Iran.
The six, identified as A Varghese of Kanniyakumari, D Arumugam of Villupuram, A Ezhumalai of Cuddalore, R
Sathish and A Chelladurai of Thanjavur, and Y Justin of Thiruvananthapuram, were employed for fishing by one Yasin of Iran about six months ago.
Trouble started two months ago when differences surfaced between the fishermen and their employer due to poor catch, following which Yasin allegedly abandoned them. After struggling without proper food or lodging, they requested the employer to allow them to return home. However, he demanded Rs 1 lakh each from each of them, which was too big an amount for the fishermen.
Finally realising that they would not be able to pay up, Yasin allegedly told them on August 12 that their visas were cancelled but tickets were arranged for them to return to India. Their relief was short-lived, as they learnt while going to the airport that he cancelled the tickets.
After coming to know about their plight, the International Firshermen Development Trust (INFIDET), Kanniyakumari,
approached the Commissionerate of Rehabilitation and Welfare of Non-Resident Tamils, which in turn contacted the Indian embassy in Iran.
According to P Justin, president, INFIDET, the embassy officials arranged COVID tests and flight tickets for the six fishermen who went from Iran to Doha in Qatar and from there to Chennai on Sunday morning. They were received by officials at the airport before being sent to their respective hometowns.