The Indian fishermen, abducted by the 'Sea Tigers', the naval wing of the LTTE on March 6, said that the main intention behind the Tamil militant outfit's action was to seize their boat.
CHENNAI: The Indian fishermen, abducted by the 'Sea Tigers', the naval wing of the LTTE on March 6, on Saturday said that the main intention behind the Tamil militant outfit's action was to seize their boat.
Speaking to reporters here, Clements, the leader of the 12-member fishing team, who returned to India on Friday, said that they were informed by the LTTE that they were being abducted so that their boat could be used.
"They were taken blindfolded to various locations, including a temple and some forest areas," he said adding that all of them, barring one Simon, hailing from Quilon, were herded together.
He said the Sea Tigers handed them over to a group of Indian fishermen at midsea on May 17.
Though they were subjected to some harassment initially, they were taken care of well by the kidnappers, he said.
Simon, a mechanical engineer by profession, was driving their boat and was separated from them, Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu, D Mukherjee, who introduced the released fishermen to the media, said.
Earlier, the fishermen, who were brought by police from Ramanathapuram to Chennai, called on Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, who announced a solatium of Rs 10,000 to each of them to meet their immediate requirements.
They thanked the Chief Minister for his efforts to get them released.
On the role of the Sea Tigers in the abduction, Mukherjee said it proved his statement made a few days back that the outfit was behind the incident.
"Based on the report, the Chief Minister had also made a statement in the assembly that the abducted fishermen were then in the custody of the LTTE," he said.
The arrest of six Sri Lankan Sea Tigers in April at Tuticorin, proved handy as they revealed that the abducted fishermen were in the custody of the LTTE, he said.
The fishermen would be sent back to their native places after questioning, Mukherji said. Among those who returned were 14-year-old Aniston of Kodimunai.
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