The five Indian fishermen freed by Sri Lanka after President Mahinda Rajapaksa commuted their death sentence arrived in India on Thursday, but not to the emotional reunion with the families they expected.
Instead of flying to Tiruchi, where their families and a big crowd had gathered for their return en route to their hometown Rameswaram, the five men — Emerson, P. Augustus, R. Wilson, K. Prasath and J. Langlet — were put on a direct flight to Delhi from Colombo.
At the Indira Gandhi International Airport, however, they were received by officials of the Ministry of External Affairs. They were later handed over to Intelligence Bureau and Home Ministry officials.
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“The MEA’s role is over,” said an official, referring to the Ministry’s efforts to secure their release. Sources said the men were taken on Thursday evening for an “intelligence debrief” and it was part of “normal procedure.”